Ahmedabad, India — Violence erupted outside the Gujarat Congress headquarters in Ahmedabad where supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress clashed, hurling stones at each other on Tuesday. This confrontation was sparked by a protest against comments made by Rahul Gandhi, a leader of the opposition Congress party, in the Lok Sabha, India’s lower house of Parliament.
The incident at the Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan saw both parties throw accusations at each other, with each blaming the other for initiating the violence. This escalation followed Gandhi’s criticism of the BJP, in which he claimed that the party’s approach was antithetical to the principles of Hinduism which, according to him, preaches non-violence.
In a statement made on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Gandhi emphasized that the “cowardly and violent attack” on the Congress office served as a potent example of the BJP’s departure from Hindu teachings. He asserted, “The people of Gujarat can clearly see through their lies and will teach the BJP government a decisive lesson.”
Local authorities reported that several leaders and workers from both parties were detained following the clash, which resulted in injuries among the participants. The violent encounter required police intervention as visuals from local TV channels depicted dramatic scenes with party workers assaulting each other and throwing stones.
Each party presented opposing narratives regarding the incident. The BJP insisted that their protest was peaceful and was violently disrupted by Congress workers. Meanwhile, Gujarat Congress working president Himmatsingh Patel alleged that the BJP’s actions were an indication of the state’s failing law and order under the current government. He argued that the BJP workers aggressively targeted the Congress office, unduly provoked by Gandhi’s message advocating non-violence among all religions.
The clash marks a significant moment of tension between the two major political parties in one of India’s key states. With the ongoing political rhetoric heating up, the incident in Ahmedabad underscores the deep-seated animosities and the volatile political landscape in Gujarat.
As photos and videos of the incident circulated on social media and were broadcast across news channels, the public’s attention was captured nationwide, prompting discussions about the implications of such political violence on the democratic fabric and societal harmony.
As the situation develops, both the BJP and Congress are preparing to take legal action against each other, each claiming to have sustained injuries among their members. This confrontation not only reflects the current polarized political climate in India but also poses serious questions about the role of political discourse and the limits of protest in a democracy.