Rahul to make most of BJP's mistake, to meet Kargil martyrs' relatives kicked out of party rallies

Rahul Gandhi will meet the two families as he tours Gujarat on Tuesday and Wednesday

Jumana Shah  | Edited By Manas Joshi
Ahmedabad, December 4, 2017 | UPDATED 20:01 IST
Rahul Gandhi (File Photo)Rahul Gandhi (File Photo)

Congress vice President Rahul Gandhi is likely to meet family members of two Kargil war martyrs who were unceremoniously removed from CM Vijay Rupani and PM Modi's rallies

BSF martyr Ashok Tadvi's daughter Rupal was taken out of Rupani's rally in Kevadia, Narmada district on Friday. On Sunday, a similar incident occurred in PM Narendra Modi's rally in Surendranagar. Sister of BSF martyr Bashir Ahmed Multani, Naseem stood up with a paper in her hand to make her representation to the PM asking why the family was not given the promised plot of land for residence and a petrol pump.Videos of these two instances went viral on social media putting BJP on back-foot as negative reactions on the ill treatment of the people poured in on social media.

Rahul Gandhi looks to corner BJP on this as he tours Gujarat for two days - Tuesday and Wednesday. He will likely meet the two families in Surendranagar and Rajpipla respectively.

Gandhi had tweeted video of Rupal being dragged out of the CM's rally along with a caustic remark about 'BJP's arrogance' and how 'patriotic' BJP CM is ill-treating a martyr's daughter.'

On Saturday however, officials from Narmada Collectorate visited Rupal and came to an agreement about the specific plot of land to be given to her. The issue was pending since 15 years. Narmada Collector RS Ninama told India Today, "We had given her four acre land for agriculture in 2011, but she and her mother (the widow of Tadvi) were insisting on land for petrol pump. As for the residential land, there was a dispute over her choice of plot. We sorted it out the next day and it has been resolved."

After receiving the land on Saturday, Rupal mentioned Rahul Gandhi's tweet while accepting that she was happy that her demands were met.

Multani on the other hand said they had only received some cash after the death of her brother, but no land, be it for residence or for building a petrol pump or agriculture has not been received by her family. Multani also alleged that the Collector office had misbehaved with her, categorically asking her not to come back with her demands.

Surendranagar Collector Udit Agrawal told India Today that these allegations were false. He however said he would look at her file properly and comment later.  

BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas however did not attach excessive significance to the incidents. "These kind of things keep on happening during election time" he said "There are a few people, who are so frustrated with their problems, that they want to get it sorted as election is the only time politicians are accessible."

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