Narendra Modi during his rally in Meerut
As Rahul Gandhi showed his solidarity with people from the North-East by joining protests against the death of 20-year-old student from Arunchal Pradesh Nido Taniam, the BJP said the Congress vice-president's gesture may have been inspired by Narendra Modi's strong condemnation of the incident.
"May be the way Narendra Modi strongly condemned it in his Meerut rally has provoked Rahul Gandhi to take this kind of window dressing," BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad said today.
"Right in the heart of the capital of India, if a police, effectively under the control of the government of India, is not controlling rampant excesses and also murder of North-Eastern boys and girls, what did Rahul Gandhi do to stem this"? Mr Prasad added.
Mr Modi, the BJP's PM candidate, had slammed the Centre and the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi over Nido's death at a rally in Meerut on Sunday.
"We should see Delhi as a global city. But in the last few days, the language and actions have brought disrepute, not only to the national capital but to the entire country... African women were ill-treated. Daughters from Manipur were ill-treated. Now a son from Arunachal Pradesh has been killed. This does not cover us with glory," Mr Modi said. (
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Less than 24 hours after the Mr Modi's remarks, Mr Gandhi visited the protest venue in the heart of the capital where he promised that justice will be delivered for Nido.
"What happened to Nido is totally unacceptable," said Mr Gandhi. "There is only one India. And that India belongs to all of us. We are going to ensure you get respect in this country. Full stop." (
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Delhi Chief Minister
Arvind Kejriwal is also expected to join the protests tomorrow and is likely to sit on a 'dharna' with the protesting students from the North-East.