Varanasi: Political temperatures soared in Varanasi on Monday as BJP and Congress workers staged separate protests, trading barbs over remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NEET aspirant’s gang rape case in Mahoba.Scores of BJP functionaries took to the streets and burnt effigies of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and UP Congress Committee chief Ajay Rai at the district headquarters, alleging that the two leaders made objectionable remarks against the PM.In a counter-protest, Congress workers burnt effigies of PM Modi, chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the gang rape case and the alleged police action against Congress supporters. Congress functionaries also submitted a memorandum to the district administration, seeking the Governor’s intervention to ensure justice for the Mahoba girl.Demanding a public apology from the Congress leadership, BJP leaders alleged that Congress functionaries were repeatedly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi out of frustration and in an attempt to mislead people about the achievements of BJP govts at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh. The protesters claimed that people across the country and the state support development, security and good governance, while the Congress was trying to vitiate the political atmosphere through controversial statements.Tension prevailed briefly during the protest when demonstrators attempted to stop the vehicle of the district magistrate and police personnel intervened to restrain them. The situation remained tense for a few minutes before normalcy was restored.Later, the protesters marched to the district magistrate’s office and submitted a memorandum demanding strict legal action against Rai.In a counter move to the BJP protest, Congress workers led by district president Rajeshwar Patel and city chief Raghvendra Chaubey staged a demonstration at the district headquarters and burnt posters carrying images of Modi, Yogi and Pradhan.Congress leaders said the BJP had insulted democratic norms by burning effigies of the Congress leadership, and in response, the party workers reached the same venue to symbolically burn the images of the BJP leaders.The protesters asserted that the Congress would not be intimidated by political pressure and that the politics of hatred would be countered by raising people-centric issues. They said dissent could not be suppressed in a democracy and alleged that the BJP’s actions reflected political frustration.Congress leaders further accused the government of trying to divert public attention from key issues, alleging that law and order in the state was deteriorating, crimes against women were increasing, the future of youth was at stake, and common people were suffering due to inflation and unemployment.
