BJP leaders escalated attacks on Rahul Gandhi following his protests against the Election Commission

BJP leaders on Thursday stepped up attacks on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the INDIA bloc’s protests against the Election Commission, with party spokesperson C R Kesavan accusing him of behaving “inappropriately” with a woman police personnel during the agitation.Speaking in Chennai, Kesavan questioned Rahul Gandhi’s conduct during the protest and said it sent a wrong message to women in the country.“How can any decent individual, let alone a member of parliament or a leader of the opposition, behave in such an inappropriate manner with a woman, and that too, a female police personnel?” Kesavan said.“Rahul Gandhi has the audacity to lecture about smash the patriarchy, but on the other hand, he engages in such indecent behaviour,” he said, demanding that the Congress leader apologise.BJP national president Nitin Nabin also accused Rahul Gandhi of having an “anarchist mindset” and trying to “spread poison” in society over his protests against the Election Commission, PTI reported.Speaking to reporters in Varanasi, Nabin said Rahul Gandhi should resign if he had objections to the poll panel, pointing out that the same Election Commission conducted elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where the Congress and its allies came to power.“I can only say that they are of ‘arajaktawadi’ (anarchist) mindset and trying to spread poison in society,” Nabin said. “If Rahul Gandhi has the courage, he should first resign. The people are watching the manner in which he is playing this game.”

Nabin’s remarks came a day after Rahul Gandhi led INDIA bloc leaders in a street protest against the Election Commission and was detained along with several MPs.The Congress has been demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over concerns surrounding decisions and orders related to the Special Intensive Revision process.The EC has maintained that differing views are part of institutional deliberations and that its orders have full legal sanction.For the second consecutive day, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is hosting a lunch for INDIA bloc leaders in Delhi on Thursday, after which a protest demanding Kumar’s resignation is likely, PTI reported.The lunch is scheduled at Moets in Connaught Place at 1:45 pm. The development comes a day after Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders were detained during their protest march towards Jantar Mantar.