BJP protests against Rahul Gandhi in Kolkata, demands apology

BJP's youth wing on Saturday held protests in Kolkata against Congress leader former party president Rahul Gandhi. The protestors demanded an apology from the leader over his comments on the Rafale deal after the Supreme Court rejected the review petitions filed in the case. The apex court also dropped the contempt case filed against Gandhi by BJP lawmaker Meenakshi Lekhi. 

'He must apologise to PM'

The protestors demanded an apology from the Congress leader. "Rahul Gandhi always targeted PM Modi. Now, the court has given clean chit to Prime Minister Modi. He must apologize to the PM. He also spread lies about the matter," said Shyam Jaisal, a member of the BJP Kolkata Yuva Morcha. Another protestor said that Rahul Gandhi has spread lies about the Rafale matter and betrayed people.

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Rahul Gandhi's effigy burnt

The angry protestors also burnt an effigy of Rahul Gandhi. The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha activists took out a rally from Moulali to Bidhan Bhawan in Central Kolkata and then burnt effigies Rahul Gandhi for his "lies and propaganda" on Rafale deal in a bid to defame Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Lok Sabha polls, a BJYM (Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha) leader said. Earlier, BJP leader and General Secretary Bhupender Yadav told reporters in New Delhi that the Congress and Rahul Gandhi were "exposed" by the Supreme Court's verdict and they should now tender an apology. 

The Supreme Court has dismissed the review petitions in the Rafale case against the apex court's December 14, 2018, judgment that upheld the 36 Rafale jets' deal. The review petitions had asked for a review in the jet deal with French firm Dassault Aviation. BJP Member Lawmaker Meenakshi Lekhi had also accused former Congress president Rahul Gandhi of misquoting an order of the SC. Rahul Gandhi had said that the apex court had accepted that ‘chowkidar’ is a ‘chor’. In the wake of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. After this, the SC issued a contempt notice against Gandhi, he later tendered an apology seeking closure of the proceedings.

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