Rahul Gandhi's Car Damaged In 'Attack' Along Bengal-Bihar Border, Congress Divided Over Cause

West Bengal Congress president Adhir Chowdhury claimed that Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is facing frequent obstacles in West Bengal.

The rear window of Rahul Gandhi's car was busted during the stone pelting.

Source : PTI

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s car came under attack near the Bihar-Bengal border during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. According To ABP Ananda, stones were pelted at Rahul Gandhi’s car, breaking the windscreen of the car near the Bengal-Bihar border, in Malda. As per the report, West Bengal Congress president Adhir Chowdhury claimed that Gandhi’s yatra is facing frequent obstacles in the state. He added that the posters along the route of the yatra were also vandalised.

Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was touring Bihar and re-entered West Bengal when stones were pelted by unidentified persons at the vehicle. While the rear window pane of the vehicle was smashed in the incident, Gandhi did not suffer any injury.

According to PTI, television visuals showed Gandhi alighting from the vehicle after reaching a designated halt and inspecting the damaged windowpane. The attack took place in Malda's Harishchandrapur area as the yatra re-entered West Bengal from Bihar. "The rear window pane of the vehicle Rahul Gandhi was travelling in was smashed after being pelted with stones... this is unacceptable," Chowdhury was quoted by PTI.

On Wednesday, Gandhi had resumed his yatra with a roadshow in Bihar's Katihar district. After his night halt at Katihar, Gandhi started his Yatra in the morning and entered West Bengal through Malda around 11:30 am. He was seen sitting on the roof of a sports utility vehicle, which was slowly moving and he waved at enthusiastic crowds that gathered along the road.

However, Supriya Shrinate said that the attack was false news and that the windshield broke due to the security clearance rope. 

"A huge crowd had come to meet Rahul ji, when a woman suddenly came forward to meet him, the car had to be stopped suddenly. The windshield of the car was broken due to the rope used in the security circle. Rahul ji is fighting the battle for justice diligently and this country not only stands with him but will also keep him safe", she wrote in X in Hindi.

ग़लत खबर का स्पष्टीकरण ज़रूरी है

राहुल जी से मिलने अपार जनसमूह आया हुआ था, एक महिला उनसे मिलने के लिये जब एकदम से आगे आ गयीं, तब कार को अचानक रोकना पड़ा

सुरक्षा घेरे में इस्तेमाल किए जाने वाले रस्से से कार की विंडशील्ड टूट गई

राहुल जी न्याय की लड़ाई मुस्तैदी से लड़ रहे हैं…

— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) January 31, 2024

Notably, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh also reacted to the incident, saying, "No incident took place in Bengal relating Rahul Gandhi. That incident happened in Katihar. So don't try to confuse public, don't mix up the spot and don't make baseless allegations against Bengal".

No incident took place in Bengal relating Rahul Gandhi. That incident happened in Katihar. So don't try to confuse public, don't mix up the spot and don't make baseless allegations against Bengal.

— Kunal Ghosh (@KunalGhoshAgain) January 31, 2024

The alleged attack comes at a time when there is a rift between I.N.D.I.A bloc allies – Trinamool Congress and Congress – over a seat-sharing agreement in West Bengal, this escalated further on Wednesday. CM Mamata Banerjee reaffirmed her commitment to contest independently in her state.

The Trinamool supremo without naming any party or leader said that some appeared only during elections like cuckoos in spring.

"Our fight with the BJP will continue. We will fight alone. If anyone can defeat BJP, it is Trinamool Congress," Mamata said, reiterating earlier remarks she made last week in Kolkata.

According to ANI, the comments from the West Bengal CM come even as Congress sources indicated that they were still attempting to get Mamata on board as a potential ally and that seat-sharing talks in Bengal were only on hold.