A political war of words has erupted between the BJP and the Congress after a pregnant journalist alleged that she was pushed and pulled by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the Opposition’s protest march towards the Supreme Court on Monday. While the BJP has criticised Gandhi over the allegation, the Congress has questioned the sequence of events and accused its political rivals of spreading propaganda.
The incident reportedly occurred as Gandhi and senior INDIA bloc leaders marched towards the Supreme Court as part of their campaign demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Gandhi subsequently filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the revision exercise.
Journalist Richa Parashar was among those covering the developments at the court.
JOURNALIST ALLEGES SHE WAS PUSHED
Parashar claimed she was waiting near a gate through which Gandhi was expected to leave the Supreme Court premises, hoping to record his comments.
“I was excited for his byte. I thought it was a big day for me,” she told ANI.
According to Parashar, a large crowd had gathered at the site when she attempted to record Gandhi’s remarks. She alleged that Gandhi grabbed her shoulder and pulled her before his security personnel pushed her, causing her to fall down the stairs.
The journalist, who said she was three months pregnant, also alleged that her accompanying cameraperson was elbowed and fell to the ground.
“Rahul Gandhi held my shoulder and pulled. I could feel his strength. His guards pushed me,” she said.
Parashar claimed she pleaded with those around her not to push her but was unable to prevent the fall. She further alleged that supporters chanting slogans in Gandhi’s favour drowned out her attempts to draw attention to the incident.
After experiencing slight abdominal pain, she said she was taken for medical attention and subsequently admitted to Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
Parashar said she disclosed her pregnancy to hospital staff when an X-ray was suggested following her fall. She defended her presence at the protest site, saying that covering such events was part of her professional responsibility.
However, videos circulating on social media have not clearly established that Gandhi personally pushed the journalist.
BJP LEADERS VISIT JOURNALIST
Several BJP leaders visited Parashar at the hospital on Tuesday and criticised Gandhi over the allegations.
Delhi BJP vice-president Rajesh Bhatia told ANI that the journalist’s sister had approached him for assistance after the incident, claiming that Parashar had been injured and required medical attention.
Bhatia said he informed local MLA Umang Bajaj, who subsequently visited the hospital. According to the BJP leader, medical examinations were conducted and doctors recommended admission as a precaution.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also accused Gandhi of behaving inappropriately and alleged that Congress workers had failed to assist the journalist.
The BJP used the incident to question Gandhi’s conduct, particularly in light of his public messaging around the slogan “Smash Patriarchy”.
The allegations, however, remain disputed, and the available videos have not conclusively established the sequence of events described by the journalist.
CONGRESS QUESTIONS TIMELINE, ALLEGES PROPAGANDA
The Congress strongly pushed back against the allegations, with party leader Alka Lamba questioning the reported timeline of the incident and the subsequent medical examination.
Lamba claimed there were discrepancies between the time at which the journalist said the incident occurred and when she reached the hospital. She also questioned the decision to conduct an X-ray when the journalist had reportedly disclosed that she was pregnant.
In a social media post, Lamba alleged that the BJP was attempting to turn the incident into a political controversy and accused the party of using it for propaganda.
Her remarks, particularly the reference to an X-ray, triggered further criticism and intensified the political exchange between the two parties.
The Congress’s response has itself drawn attention because the dispute involves allegations of physical contact and a reported fall by a pregnant journalist. The circumstances surrounding the incident and the medical decisions taken afterwards remain central to the controversy.
HOSPITAL SAYS JOURNALIST AND FOETUS ARE FINE
Dr Ajay Swaroop, chairperson of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told ANI that Parashar was doing well and had been admitted as a precaution.
According to the hospital chief, her physical examination did not reveal any major problem. He also said an ultrasound had been conducted and that the foetus was healthy.
The hospital’s statement provided reassurance about the journalist’s reported condition, although it did not establish how the incident occurred or who was responsible for the alleged pushing.
RAHUL GANDHI YET TO RESPOND
Rahul Gandhi has not publicly responded to the allegations in the account provided.
The incident has added another flashpoint to the ongoing political confrontation surrounding the SIR exercise, the Election Commission and the Opposition’s demand for electoral reforms.
While the BJP has accused Gandhi of misconduct, the Congress has challenged the journalist’s account and alleged a politically motivated campaign. The allegations remain contested, and the precise sequence of events has not been independently established.