BJP terms Rahul’s sit-in a bid to divert attention from ‘Vande Mataram’ row
J.P. Nadda questions the timing of the sit-in, says the Congress leader’s dharna, despite the Supreme Court’s decision to constitute a high-powered committee to probe the July 20 incident, ‘exposes the party’s desperation’
On August 21, 2026, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of attempting to divert public attention from the "Vande Mataram" controversy by holding a sit-in at Parliament Street police station. Gandhi staged the protest to demand the registration of a case regarding pellet injuries sustained by 19-year-old Sahil Lochab during a protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party.
Union Minister J.P. Nadda dismissed the sit-in as "cheap and diversionary politics," stating that it demonstrated "Rahul Gandhi ji's protest today is neither for students nor for justice; it is a symbol of the Congress party’s political desperation and Rahul Gandhi’s insatiable hunger for 'footage'." Nadda questioned the timing of the sit-in, given the ongoing case under investigation by the Supreme Court and the assurance that the police were referring the matter to the Crime Branch.
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad criticized Gandhi for staging the protest without permission, accusing the Congress of engaging in "the politics of anarchy to divert attention after being cornered on the issue of ‘Vande Mataram’."
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- Rahul Gandhi dharna: Police register FIR on protester's pellet injury complaint timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- Delhi Police registers FIR in pellet guns case during CJP protest; Rahul Gandhi's sit-in protest ends livemint.com
- After Rahul’s dharna, police register FIR on pellet gun use at Delhi protest thehindu.com
- Thousands expected at Rahul Gandhi’s Pune event; no road closures, traffic police to monitor indianexpress.com
