'Don't use students for politics': BJP attacks Rahul over Jantar Mantar protest claims

NEW DELHI, Aug 5: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday hit back at Congress leader and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his allegations of police excesses during the July 20 'SansadChalo' student protest, accusing him of spreading a "false narrative" and using students for political purposes.

Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra rejected the Congress MP's claim that security forces fired on protesters, reiterating the party's stand that "no bullets were fired" during the demonstration. 

"A short while ago, Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference along with some of the young people who participated in the protest in Delhi on the 20th. I want to make one thing very clear. What I am saying today is meant for Rahul Gandhi, not for those young people. They are our children, they belong to the nation and they are the country's future," Patra said.

"We had clearly stated earlier that no firing took place during the 'SansadChalo' protest in Delhi on the 20th. I am repeating it today with the same sense of responsibility because this is a sensitive issue. We do not want misinformation to spread or falsehoods to be accepted as facts. Therefore, I want to state once again, calmly and clearly, that no bullets were fired during the 'SansadChalo' protest in Delhi on the 20th," he added.

Patra alleged that Rahul was attempting to use students to advance a political narrative and said the BJP's criticism was directed only at the Congress leader. 

"One should never attempt to play politics by using innocent children, resting a gun on their shoulders, as Rahul Gandhi is doing. Children are the future of our country; they are not at fault," he said. 

"We want to expose the false narrative and the 'bunch of lies' that Rahul Gandhi is trying to propagate. The country's children should remain fearless," he added.

Responding to allegations raised by some student protesters during the former Congress President's press conference, Patra said students should not be divided on religious lines. �"TOI