New Delhi/Mumbai/Bhubaneswar/Bengaluru. Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu said on Thursday that he stands by his comments and is not afraid of police complaints after an FIR was lodged against him for his remarks against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha. An FIR has been lodged against Bittu in Bengaluru. Police said that the case has been registered on the complaint of an official of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.
On the FIR being lodged, Minister of State for Food Processing Bittu said, “The Congress party always tries to intimidate by filing FIRs and police cases. I am not worried at all.” He said, “Whatever Rahul Gandhi has said about the condition of Sikhs in India, how can I agree with that view.” Bittu, grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, said, “Rahul Gandhi and his party can file 100 FIRs, I will speak for the unity of the country. I belong to a family that did not care about bullets, bombs.” When asked if he stands by his comments, the minister said, “One can back out from a statement when the turban is tied.”
Bonde and Gaikwad adamant on comments against Rahul Gandhi, Congress protests
Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha member Anil Bonde, who made headlines for their comments against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, said on Thursday that they stand by their statements. Meanwhile, the party’s Maharashtra and Odisha units also protested on Thursday as part of a nationwide protest organised by the Congress on the issue.
Gaikwad had earlier this week announced a reward of Rs 11 lakh to anyone who cuts Rahul Gandhi’s tongue. He said on Thursday that he is not bothered by the protests against him. Bonde also demanded that a case be filed against him (Rahul) for the former Congress president’s remarks on reservation. Congress leaders on Thursday protested in various areas of Maharashtra including Mumbai, Nagpur and demanded the opposition parties to expel both the leaders for the alleged controversial remarks of Gaikwad and Bonde.
Participating in a protest organised in Bhayander near Mumbai, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said an MP, MLA and a Union minister from the ruling coalition had threatened Gandhi. He criticised the “scared BJP and its allies”.
Kerala Assembly member Chennithala said, “These should be taken seriously. Rahul Gandhi’s reputation and credibility have increased both in India and abroad. He is the only leader in the country fighting against (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and the RSS. He has become a big challenge for the BJP. This is why the scared BJP and its allies are constantly threatening him. However, Rahul Gandhi is not afraid of such threats.” On this occasion, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress President Nana Patole said, “Rahul Gandhi has set out on a journey to protect the country’s constitution and democracy. Rahul Gandhi is a calm leader, but the BJP is targeting him and he is being constantly threatened. The Congress will not tolerate this and will give a strong reply to it.”
Those who took part in the protest included Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar, Congress’ Mumbai unit chief Varsha Gaikwad and MLA Aslam Sheikh. Party unit leaders in Odisha on Thursday protested in Bhubaneswar and demanded action against four leaders of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for allegedly making controversial remarks against opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. Carrying posters and banners, Congress leaders and workers took out a protest march from Congress Bhavan near Master Canteen Square. When Congress workers moved towards the state BJP office, the police stopped them at Kharvelnagar, leading to a clash between police and Congress workers. Police detained some workers who were later released. Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Srikant Jena said, “People who conspired to assassinate Rahul Gandhi are roaming freely. The police have not arrested them yet. Neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Union Home Minister Amit Shah have commented on the issue so far.”
During his recent visit to the US, Rahul Gandhi had told students at Georgetown University that the Congress would think about ending reservation in India when ‘everyone starts getting equal opportunities’. He said that this is not the case right now. Reacting to the protests, Gaikwad said, “We don’t care about it. It doesn’t matter to me.”
FIR lodged against Union Minister Bittu for his statements against Rahul Gandhi
An FIR has been registered here against Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu for his alleged remarks against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his statements made in the US, police said on Thursday. Police said the case has been registered on a complaint by an official of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.
A police officer said, “An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code at the High Grounds Police Station here.” On Sunday, Minister of State for Railways Bittu had targeted Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his statements in the US regarding Sikhs in India and said that “when people who are experts in making bombs are supporting Rahul Gandhi, then he is the country’s ‘number one’ terrorist.” Condemning this statement, the Congress said that Bittu is talking like a ‘mad man’.