Stones, black flags, Modi slogans can't stop me, says Rahul after convoy attacked

Rahul Gandhi, however, escaped unhurt and proceeded to the next place on his itinerary--Runi village in Thara taluka--where he asserted he would not get cowed down by such protests.

Rahul who was on his trip to visit the flood hit area of Banaskantha had to face protests against him at various places. Photo: ANI

NEW DELHI: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday faced protests in flood-hit Gujarat where alleged BJP supporters hurled a cement brick at his car and showed him black flags, forcing him to cut short his address at a gathering and leave in a huff. Rahul who was on his trip to visit the flood hit area of Banaskantha had to face protests against him at various places. Gandhi, however, escaped unhurt and proceeded to the next place on his itinerary--Runi village in Thara taluka--where he asserted he would not get cowed down by such protests. "Won't step back because of black flags, Narendra Modi slogans or stones," an unfazed Gandhi told a gathering at Runi. Stating that such petty actions won’t undermine his determination, Rahul said : “I am not scared of such cowardly heckling or crowds shouting slogans for Narendra Modi. Darte woh hain jo satya nahi dekhna chahte, nahi samajhna chahte; hum ye sub darpok koshishisho se darne wale nahi hain. (Those who do not want to be exposed to the truth are the ones who get scared; I am not scared of such cowardly attempts) He further added  "Aap logon ka dukh-dard sunney key liye aaye, samajney aaye hain, ho sakey jitni madad pahonchane aaye hain, hum in logon se dartey nahi . (I came here to listen to your troubles, and bring some aid. We are not scared of these people)." He said he won't step back because of black flags, Modi slogans or stones. Rahul was on a day-long visit to the flood hit areas of Gujarat. He flew down to Dhanera from the affected areas of Rajasthan and spoke to people from Manotra village and surrounding areas before he proceeded to the town's agriculture produce marketing yard to meet the farmers and traders there. Upon reaching Lal Chowk in Dhanera, he faced crowds with black flags protesting against him.  The crowd was allegedly shouting slogans of Prime Minister Modi. The public meeting that had be held at Lal Chowk had to be cancelled as after the crowd lost control. Police had to charge Lathi to disperse the crowd and Rahul had to leave. Even as his car was moving, people pelted his fleet with water pouches. As he was going to Dhanera helipad to take off for the flood hit region of Banaskantha,  his car was pelted with stones and some window panes were shattered. As many as 61 people have been reportedly killed in Banaskantha alone, which is the worst affected region in floods in the state in 70 years. Patan Over 270 persons are estimated to have died and 4.5 lakh people affected by the floods in the state. Seven died due to heavy rains and flood waters following rains in upstream Rajasthan. The Congress has set up a control room to coordinate relief work in the flood-affected regions. (With inputs from IANS)