Rahul Gandhi had a narrow escape. The Congress party proudly designates its leader, Rahul Gandhi, as the "PM in Waiting." However, a recent incident marred his return to West Bengal from Bihar during the "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra," as his car came under attack in Malda district. While Rahul Gandhi emerged unharmed, the rear windshield of his convoy's car fell victim to a group of stone pelters.
The Congress, through its official channels, downplayed the attack, attributing the damage to the window pane when abrupt brakes were applied to avoid a woman in Malda. The incident unfolded amidst a dense crowd at Diwangunge in Harishchandrapur, close to the Bengal-Bihar border.
The aftermath of the attack revealed a division within the Congress regarding who should bear the blame for the incident. Lok Sabha Congress leader and state party chief, Adhir Ranjan Choudhury, squarely pointed fingers at the Trinamul Congress government in West Bengal. He stated, “Some unknown armed miscreants pelted stones which broke the rear windshield of our car at Diwangunge,” insinuating the involvement of the ruling party in the state.
In contrast, AICC leader Jairam Ramesh, taking a more measured stance, refrained from accusing the TMC. He highlighted party president Mallikarjun Kharge's concerns, expressed in a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, about potential miscreants attempting to tarnish the government's image during Rahul Gandhi's Bengal tour. Ramesh emphasized, “There will be no compromise on Mr. Gandhi’s security.”
Choudhury, present in the car during the attack, hinted at the identity of the attackers, saying, “You can guess who the culprits were,” and detailed the challenges faced during the public outreach campaign in Bengal.
Mamata Banerjee, who was in the same district earlier that day, condemned the incident, stating, “Rahul is very junior to me. He and his family members are well known to me also. In fact, I started my political career in the Congress.” She clarified that the incident occurred at the Bengal-Bihar border, not in Malda, and suggested a possible connection to political dynamics in Bihar, where the BJP and Nitish Kumar have united.
As the Congress navigates the aftermath of the attack, the differing perspectives within the party and the response from Mamata Banerjee underscore the complex political landscape surrounding the incident.