There were reportedly multiple cars outside the Congress office in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, that were damaged on Sunday night. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was blamed by the Congress for the attack, which allegedly injured some Congressmen, despite the police’s claim that they were looking into the matter.
Using the social media site X, which was formerly known as Twitter, the Congress charged the BJP with planning the attack. Along with claiming that citizens’ cars were vandalised amid the mayhem, they also chastised the police department for their inaction.
In a Hindi post alongside a video depicting the alleged incident, the Congress stated, “Smriti Irani and BJP workers are badly scared in Amethi, UP. Frustrated over the defeat they saw, BJP goons armed with sticks and rods reached outside the Congress office in Amethi and vandalised vehicles parked there. There was an attack on Congress workers and the people of Amethi. Many people are badly injured in this attack… This incident shows that the BJP is going to lose badly in Amethi.”
यूपी के अमेठी में स्मृति ईरानी और BJP के कार्यकर्ता बुरी तरह डरे हुए हैं।
सामने दिख रही हार से बौखलाए BJP के गुंडे लाठी-डंडों से लैस होकर अमेठी में कांग्रेस कार्यालय के बाहर पहुंचे और वहां खड़ी गाड़ियों में तोड़फोड़ की।
कांग्रेस के कार्यकर्ताओं और अमेठी के लोगों पर भी जानलेवा… pic.twitter.com/Knv7BBN8bk
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 5, 2024
Supriya Shrinate, a spokesperson for the Congress, accused the police of passive observation while BJP workers engaged in unruly behavior. “The wind has changed, breaking vehicles will not solve the problem, BJP people!” she wrote on X.
अमेठी में कांग्रेस कार्यालय के बाहर खड़ी गाड़ियों की तोड़फोड़ की गई
पुलिस मूकदर्शक बनी रही और भाजपाई गुंडागर्दी करते रहे
हवा का रुख़ बदल गया है, गाड़ियाँ तोड़ने से बात नहीं बनेगी भाजपाईयों!pic.twitter.com/9Qxh5Sk6NY
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) May 5, 2024
The Amethi Police responded to Shrinate’s post, stating, “On the basis of the complaint received at the Gauriganj police station, necessary legal action is being taken by registering a case under the relevant sections.”
The BJP has yet to provide a statement regarding the incident. In the electoral arena, the Congress nominated Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide to the Gandhi family, to contest against incumbent MP Smriti Irani in Amethi. Although there were speculations about Rahul or Priyanka Gandhi being fielded, the Congress confirmed Sharma’s candidacy.
The Congress is working to make up ground after losing in the 2022 assembly elections. Regaining Amethi and Rae Bareli would be a difficult task. Lok Sabha poll of 2024 is set to be held on May 20.