IYC stages protest against Modi govt on Rafale deal

Scores of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers today staged a protest against the Modi government over a range of issues, including the Rafale fighter air craft deal, at Raisina Road here.

The protestors, however, were stopped from marching towards the Parliament House by police. Several IYC activists were detained and released later.

The Youth Congress leaders from various parts of the country questioned the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance(NDA) government over the Rafale deal, unemployment, atrocities against Dalits, minorities and women, corruption and the agrarian crisis in the country.

Senior party leader and Uttar Pradesh Congress president Raj Babbar took a dig at the BJP over Congress president Rahul Gandhi's hug to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament.

"They should see how people embrace each other on Holi and Eid to understand what a hug means. But, they do not believe in love and brotherhood, they revel in animosity and hatred," Babbar commented.

The IYC alleged, in a statement, that the Centre "misled" the nation by quoting "illogical and imaginary data" while answering the Congress president's questions in Parliament.

"Head of the government along with the defence minister during parliamentary session ducked the question by Congress president Rahul Gandhi on the Rafale deal," the statement said.

IYC president Keshav Chand Yadav alleged that the BJP government was showing "apathy" to people of the country, including its soldiers.

Top IYC leaders, including the outfit's in-charge Krishna Allavaru, Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev, AICC secretary Biswaranjan Mohanty among others participated in the protest demonstration.