Congress flays attack on Rahul’s car, seeks answers from PM

New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) Dubbing the attack on party Vice President Rahul Gandhi's car in Banaskantha in Gujarat as a "dastardly" act, the Congress on Friday said that "violence and physical attack have become BJP's culture".

The party asked if Prime Ninister Narendra Modi would answer about the "serious lapse" in security as Gandhi is an SPG protectee. It also demanded that every political party should unequivocally condemn the attack.

In a series of tweets, Congress spokseperson Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that the attack was an organised act by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists.

"BJP goons attack Congress Vice President Rahulji's car in Lal Chowk, Dhanera, Banaskanta, Gujarat. Disgusting and disgraceful," said Surjewala on his Twitter page.

"With 218 deaths in Gujarat, 61 in Bansakanta alone, Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) only does an aerial visit while CM takes five days to visit. BJP only attacks opposition," he wrote about the flood situation in the area, and attached pictures of broken windowpanes of Gandhi's car.

Surjewala said: "Windowpanes of Congress Vice President's car broken in an organised attack by goons, security staff injured. BJP must know truth can't be silenced."

"Violence and physical attack have become BJP's culture. Congress and Rahulji get more determined to raise people's voice after every attack," he said.

The spokesperson also said: "Rahulji is an SPG protectee. An attack under Gujarat BJP government's watch reflects not only serious lapse but tacit complicity. Will the Prime Minister answer?"

Condemning the attack, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said: "The damage done to the motorcade and injury to security personnel clearly shows that it was a well-organised attack on Rahul Gandhi to harm him physically."

"We strongly condemn the cult of violence for which the BJP and its cadres are famous. This is being deliberately done by the BJP to create an atmosphere of fear in the state of Gujarat just before the assembly elections. This is yet another example of intolerance exhibited by the BJP and its workers openly."

Rahul Gandhi on Friday faced hostile black flag-waving crowds shouting slogans in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tour of flood-hit Dhanera town in Gujarat's Banaskantha district, forcing him to beat a hasty retreat.

Terming the attack appalling and reprehensible, another Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "It was a dastardly attack for no reason other than the fact that Rahul Gandhi dared to visit a flood-affected area in Banaskantha district."

"Are we reaching a space in our democracy where political opponents are not allowed to practise democratic politics in terms of visiting areas and voicing opinion without any intimidation and throwing of bricks?" he said.

Singhvi said: "When a leader dares to visit Banaskantha, it is taken as an affront by the ruling party and their goons. This has to be condemned unequivocally across the board by every political party."