August 04, 2017: In the wake of stone pelting on Rahul Gandhi’s car, Congress staged protests at several places across the country. According to media reports, the glass pane at the rear of the car, in which Rahul was seated on his way to the helipad in Dhanera from Lal Chowk, was shattered in the attack, but he did not suffer any injury and moved on to his next venue, Runi village in Thara taluka. Rahul asserted his party is not going to be cowed down by stone pelting.
Meanwhile, quoting Banaskantha Superintendent of Police Neeraj Badgujar, media reported, Police detained the man who pelted stone at Rahul’s car. Even though, attack on Rahul Gandhi’s car drew large scale condemnation, Gujarat Police seems to be working on passing the onus on Rahul Gandhi. If media reports are to be believed, Badgujar stated, Police had provided all the security, but Rahul Gandhi was repeatedly stopping the car, even at some sensitive places. He even met unknown people on the way. Badgujar statement indicates that Rahul broke security protocol despite repeated warnings by security agencies. Of course, it is a view expressed by the security personnel which may not be cent per cent accurate and may be there were some loopholes in the security arrangements. But as far as official records are concerned, there was no such security lapse, but breaking protocol, Rahul himself invited trouble.
Incident sparked verbal dual between Congress and BJP. While Congress breathed fire against BJP, the latter too fired verbal salvo and mocked at Congress. Calling the people who waved black flag and pelted stone as ‘goons’, Congress launched verbal tirade. BJP was prompt to respond in its own style. Referring to Congress MLA stay at Bengaluru while people of Gujarat are facing flood situation, BJP leaders mocked at Congress Party’s commitment to people’s cause.
It remains to be seen whether attack on Rahul Gandhi’s car can accrue any political benefit for the Congress Party. In fact, Rahul led political campaign in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand or even in Goa produced disappointing results for Congress. Moreover, Congress failed to launch any sustained campaign against Modi Government on multiple issues like demonetization, stagnant growth in manufacturing sector, farmer’s suicide, insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and many more such burning issues. Media experts opined, Congress is lacking matching vigor and spirit in campaigning compared to Modi and his Party. This time also, it may happen that stone pelting issue will not be able to be capitalized by Congress party to garner people’s vote for changing its fortune in Gujarat in ensuing Assembly Polls.
