Rahul Gandhi faces black flags, his car stoned in Gujarat's Banaskantha

GANDHINAGAR: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi escaped unhurt after a man pelted stones on his car that broke the rear windscreen while he was on his way from Lal Chowk to the helipad in Dhanera in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district on Friday. Gandhi was on a visit to the flood-affected town.

“We have detained the person who threw stones on the vehicle of Rahul Gandhi,” Banaskantha superintendent of police Neeraj Badgujar said. Earlier in the day, Gandhi was heckled by protesters at an event. He left the stage in a huff after making a brief speech in Lal Chowk area after protesters waived black flags and some people raised slogans hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Reacting to the incident, Rahul Gandhi said that he was not one to be scared of sloganeering or stone pelting. Speaking to people at Uni village in Banaskantha, Rahul said “farmers of the country were not happy. Youth wants employment.

These two issues need to be worked on and truth isno work has been done in these areas.Modi had promised to change India. He was given a chance. The anger and discontent that is being spread across the country is to divert people from asking these questions,” Rahul said.

Congress Rajya Sabha candidate and party chief Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel in a series of tweets condemned the attack.

“Strongly condemn the attack on Rahulji’s convoy in presence of police. Is it possible without state connivance?” Patel asked. “Action against those officers responsible for maintaining law and order must be initiated immediately. Attack on an SPG protectee is yet another manifestation of BJP’s frustration and government’s absolute failure to protect law and order in Gujarat,” Ahmed’s tweets said.

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani too condemned the attack.

“I condemn the unfortunate attack on Rahul Gandhi’s convoy. I have instructed officers to take strict action against those responsible,” he tweeted. Earlier in the day Rupani had tweeted, “Instead of another photo-op, it would have been better had Rahul Gandhi & Congress devoted time to proper relief work in flooded areas. People of Gujarat know the tricks of the Congress rather too well.”