Around 4 am on Tuesday, members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal had entered Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan and defaced Gandhi’s posters by pasting stickers and spraying black color as a mark of protest against Gandhi’s “anti-Hindu” remarks in his maiden speech as Leader of Opposition. , the VHP had said in a statement. While the main premises were locked, protesters tore some party banners and defaced Gandhi’s photos near the main entrance of the building. A few hours later, a clash had broken out between BJP and Congress workers outside Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan after BJP youth wing members reached there to protest against Gandhi.

Following Gohil’s press conference on Thursday, the police registered an FIR against BJP workers over the clash outside the Congress’ office. “We have taken a complaint from Congress and registered an FIR. No one has been arrested yet,” said Inspector BD Jhilaria of Ellisbridge police station.
Speaking to mediapersons earlier, Gohil said, “I have requested Rahul Gandhi to visit Ahmedabad and meet our workers, who kept calm and stood like a wall during the attack on our office. With the Rath Yatra to be held on July 7, tentatively July 6 is when Rahul Gandhi is likely to come. I believe that he will visit to motivate our workers.”

He added, “When you (police) can register an FIR on BJP’s complaint, why is there a delay in doing the same on Congress’ complaint… The police entered out headquarters and detained our workers and manhandled our leaders…”

“The fight can be ideological, it is not Gujarat’s tradition to vandalise any party’s office. No political party has ever vandalized the office of another party. The BJP workers attacked the pregnant daughter of the watchman at Congress office, but the police did nothing,” Gohil alleged.

“In the Gota-Ghatlodiya BJP social media group, the message on the attack to be held at 4 pm was circulated at 2 pm, calling out everyone to reach Congress office for stone pelting… and police did nothing. Congress had informed the Ellisbridge police station and senior officers that such an incident was going to happen. The police could have stopped stone pelting,” Gohil said.

“The people who vandalized the Congress office can be clearly seen in the videos made viral by them only… Why no action has been taken by the police… People from BJP came to Congress office without permission. They were helped by the police. They started pelting stones after raising slogans,” he alleged.

Further, Gohil warned that if the police did not take action, the party will move the Supreme Court. “The police and BJP should not consider Congress as helpless. Congress will not tolerate injustice. If necessary, we will go to the Supreme Court against the police. If impartial action is not taken by the police, then on July 6, Congress workers will take to the roads,” he added.

Hours after Gohil’s threat, the police registered an FIR against 15 BJP workers and a mob of 100 to 150 people. It was based on a complaint filed by the working president of the Gujarat Congress, Himmatsinh Patel. BJP’s youth wing workers threw stones at Congress workers, injuring a few, the complaint alleged.

On Wednesday, the Ellisbridge police had registered two FIRs, and arrested five Congress workers under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for offenses including unlawful assembly, rioting, endangering life or personal safety of others and causing harm to an on duty public servant.

WITH PTI INPUTS