Couple of punches not a problem, happy to take many more for people: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: "Couple of punches is not a problem at all, I am happy to take many more for people," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi quipped on Wednesday.

His remarks during a press conference here came in response to a question on being "punched" while being forcibly removed during a sit-in on Tuesday outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence.

Gandhi also said that as the Leader of Opposition (in Lok Sabha), it is his job to express the will of India's people, whether it is the will of students, farmers or young people.


"It was fine, I am used to getting punched, it is not a problem, it was fine. My job is to express the will of India's people, whether it is the will of students, farmers, young people, it is the job I am supposed to do as the Leader of Opposition.

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"I am supposed to become an expression of the voice of India's people. I am supposed to bring attention to where pain is being felt. These are very small costs, these are not big costs," he said.

"It is a huge honour for me to do this -- to be able to stand with the wishes of my people. Couple of punches and all is not a problem at all, I am happy to take many more," he added.

Referring to the police action to end his sit-in outside the prime minister's residence, the former Congress chief said it is correct that the police personnel "dragged" him away but they whispered "remove this government" in his ear.

"'Main Rajasthan ka hu inko (government) hataiye...main Haryana ka hoon inko hataiye'," police personnel that removed Gandhi were quoted by him as saying, to peals of laughter.

"So that sentiment is there. Everyone knows the truth, sensible police people feel it is a crime to the future of our country," he said.

Responding to another question, Gandhi said, "On one side is the future of students and they want the focus of the country to remain on their issues, while on the other hand is distraction. Both forces - one focusing and the other distracting."

"How I was treated is irrelevant to me. I don't care. Treat me five times worse, I don't care. The focus has to be on what was done to students, on the education system, on paper leaks and the costs that these children have been forced to pay. So, do whatever you want to with me, five times, ten times (more), I don't care. In fact, I like it, because I learn from it," he said.

The LoP's remarks came a day after he, along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, were forcibly removed by police after they held a dharna outside Prime Minister Modi's residence, demanding his resignation.

The surprise sit-in in the high-security zone sent the government into a tizzy, prompting it to rush Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh, along with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, to persuade the opposition leaders to vacate the sensitive site.

Gandhi's discussion with the minister lasted a few minutes, after which Singh and the home secretary left as the talks remained inconclusive.

Soon after Singh left the protest site, the police forcibly removed and detained Gandhi and other leaders in the evening.

Rahul Gandhi was taken to the Chhatrasal stadium in Model Town after his detention, but was released a few hours later. Priyanka Gandhi and some other MPs were taken to the Mandir Marg police station, where Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi visited them.

After his release, Rahul Gandhi said in a video message that once it was clear that the government had no intention of scheduling a debate on the students' issue, they decided to hold the sit-in outside the prime minister's residence.