Rahul’s convoy attacked with stones in Gujarat town
‘WON’T STEP BACK’ Congress vicepresident’s security officer hurt in attack
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi faced hostile treatment and his car came under stone pelting during a tour of flood-hit Dhanera in Banakantha, Gujarat.
Gandhi was unhurt but one the personnel from his security team received minor injury.
The incident left window pane of left side of the passenger seat broken.
Soon after the incident, Gandhi left for another badly affected village, Thara, in a chopper.
“Stone from the crowd came when we were leaving for helipad from Lal Chowk in Dhanera. Gandhi was in front passenger seat. The stone hit on the window pane of the passenger seat next to him,’’ Congress media coordinator Manoj Tyagi told media persons at Dhanera.
Gandhi also faced hostile black-flag waving crowds shouting slogans in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Dhanera visit, forcing his party to cancel a scheduled public meeting.
The Congress vice president hit out at the Prime Minister in a tweet saying: “We are not going to step back because of ‘Narendra Modi slogans’, black flags and stone pelting. We will do our best to help people.”
Gandhi, who arrived on a daylong visit to flood-affected regions of north Gujarat, flew to Dhanera from flood-hit areas in Rajasthan and spoke to people at Manotra village as well as surrounding areas, before proceeding to the town’s agriculture produce marketing yard to meet the farmers and traders.
As he reached Lal Chowk in Dhanera, he was met with crowds showing him black flags and shouting slogans for Prime Minister Modi while protesting against him.
The Congress vice-president
CONTINUED ON P 5