Rahul Gandhi is leading a protest against Modi government at Raj Ghat in New Delhi. (file photo)
Congress president Rahul Gandhi has arrived at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat in Delhi to lead a protest against the Narendra Modi government and non-functioning of the Parliament during the recently concluded Budget Session. The protest is part of a nationwide "fast" of the party against the NDA government and and its failure to hold a discussion in the Parliament on key issues such as the CBSE paper leak, Punjab National Bank scam, Cauvery issue and special category status to Andhra Pradesh.
Congress workers will hold a day-long fast in all state and district headquarters as part of the protest.
Here are the Highlights of Congress protest against Narendra Modi government:
Rahul Gandhi with Congress leaders at Rajghat
Shortly before Rahul Gandhi's arrival at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat in Delhi for a protest fast, two controversial Congress leaders, Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, were reportedly asked to leave.
Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar are both accused of a role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the aftermath of then prime minister Indira Gandhi's assassination by her Sikh bodyguards.
"Communal harmony and brotherhood is under threat in Modi government, they want to divide the society, hence it is the duty of Congress party to fight against such powers & this is what we have come together for," Congress leader RS Surjewala told news agency ANI.
We are doing fast against communal violence and protest: Ajay Maken- For communal harmony all the Congress party workers have decided to observe a day long fast today at Rajghat
- We are doing fast against communal violence and protest
- I think no other place can be better than Rajghat to observe this fast
- Congress party workers from across the nation will today going to gather here
- Rahul Gandhi ji will also going to join us very soon
BJP says that the Congress protest is an attempt to spread tarnishing image of Modi ji by spreading fake news and misleading information. Speaking to news agency ANI, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said: "There are many people who are living under the fear of PM Modi ji. They are now trying to defame him as much as they can".
He also said that PM Modi has worked for the welfare of Dalits and other minority community. "There are various people who cannot digest such positivity so they are tarnishing image of Modi ji by spreading fake news and misleading information," he said.
BJP is not sympathetic to SC/ST act: Congress leader PC Chacko- Infact, this is not only in Rajghat but throughout the country Congress has taken a massive agitation in the form of its mass satyagraha
- This is a one day long fast
- This is sympathising with the grievances of Dalit community of the country
- Today, Dalits are isolated and victimised
- They are brutally tortured by the BJP govt. both in states and also by the central govt.
- The govternmen was a mute spectator when the Supreme Court gave its verdict on SC/ST act
- BJP is not sympathetic to this cause
- We will not allow this govt. to continue their anti-dalit policies
- This is just our beginning and we will continue this fast till the time they will not make changes in their anti-Dalit policies
- We will not allow them to suppress the voice of Dalits in our country