Rahul angry over LoP issue, has nothing to do with communal violence: BJP

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anurag Thakur today said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's decision to walk into the Well of the Lok Sabha for the first time to voice his protest, had nothing to with the issue of communal violence, but rather had more to do with his anger and irritation over his party being denied the post of Leader of Opposition.

"Is it just because voices from within the party are questioning his leadership, Rahul was forced to come into the well. He did not speak anything for ten years, and there is a question mark on his leadership within his own party. He has nothing to do with communal issues. He was angry over the LoP issue," said Thakur.

"What can we do if they did not get 55 seats? He is pained that there are talks of bringing Priyanka Gandhi to the forefront in Congress," he added.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the process of awakening Rahul Gandhi had begun.

"Process of awakening of Rahul Gandhi has begun. Had he done the same earlier, the Congress would have not faced such an embarrassment, but the Congress talking about partiality in the House is laughable," said Raut.

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan's son, Chirag Paswan said Gandhi's move reflected his desperation.

"We have never seen him coming into the well earlier, and this move shows his desperation. If the policy of your party is not clear, you cannot take your anger against the chair," said Paswan.

Accusing the NDA Government of partiality, Gandhi had earlier said that the opinions of his party are not being heard in Parliament, and that the new government does not encourage any form of discussion over any issue.

Earlier today, uproar prevailed in the Lok Sabha, as the Congress Party demanded a debate on rising incidents of communal violence across the country through an adjournment motion.

Leader of the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, party MP MI Shahnawaz and party whip K C Venugopal demanded the discussion on the issue, failing which they would seek suspension of Question Hour for taking up the adjournment motion.

Congress members of the Lower House were seen pressing Sumitra Mahajan to suspend the Question Hour, so that a debate on rising communal tension in various parts of the country could be initiated.

The demand was made in the wake of heightened tension arising out of the gang rape of a woman and her forcible conversion in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.