Congress protest Highlights: Maken, Lovely seen eating before nationwide fast; BJP says ‘double standards’

BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra called Congress' call for fast as hypocritical. He said, "Why did Rahul Gandhi not observe fast for the Dalits of Karnataka? In Karnataka, 9,080 crimes were committed against Dalits, 358 Dalits were murdered and 809 Dalit women were harassed. It exposes Rahul Gandhi's hypocrisy."

Patra further said: "This isn't fast, this is fast-tracking of Rahul Gandhi's political career. The way Rahul Gandhi is ridiculing Dalits the public will surely respond to him."

As per the appeal by CP @rahulgandhi Punjab Congress, senior leaders, workers today holding a day-long fast at state and district headquarters to promote communal harmony and peace and to protest against the BJP government. #CongressForPeaceAndHarmony pic.twitter.com/53RAxsxQst

— Punjab Congress (@INCPunjab) April 9, 2018

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Sunil Jakhar unequivocally said that the new state BJP President Shwait Malik must study the performance of NDA government led by his own party at the center which is in the 5th year of its tenure, before commenting on the performance of the Punjab government. Jakhar slams Malik for issuing baselessly statements against the state government.

#CongressForPeaceAndHarmony at Thane. pic.twitter.com/Y1dZvWnPlB

— Maharashtra Congress (@INCMaharashtra) April 9, 2018

Maharashtra Congress in Thane observes fast as called by Congress party's national chief Rahul Gandhi.

Congress leader AS Lovely who was photographed eating on Monday said the picture was clicked before the fast began. 'Photograph is of before 8 am, this is symbolic fast from 10.30 am to 4.30pm,it is not indefinite hunger strike.This is what is wrong with these(BJP) ppl, instead of properly running the country, they concentrate on what we eat:on picture of him eating before fast,' he said, as reported by ANI.

BJP leader Harish Khurana reacts to the Lovely's comments, says: "This picture (of Congress leaders eating before fast) reveals double-standard of the Congress. On one hand they are claiming to observe fast, on the other hand they are seen having food at a restaurant. The picture is authentic. Let them deny it."

BJP-SAD Delhi MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa lashed out at Congress saying it is the party's mindset to eat. Claiming that the party has eaten people's money, the MLA said the fast is a theatric by the party. He also alleged that Gandhi had lunch at come and then came to fast."Congress ki mansikita hi khane ki hai. Logo ka maal khaane ki, logo ke khaple mein paisa khane ki. Yeh bhooke nahin reh sakte. Inko bhooka rehne ki aadat hi nahin hai. Rahul Gandhi bhi ghar se kha ke aaye hai aur ek baje aarahe hai, lunch kar ke aarahe hai... Yeh keval Dalit ke saath nautanki kar rahe hai, Dalito ka shoshan kar rahe hai, Dalito ka mazak uda rahe hai, yeh upvaas ke naam pe isse pai mazaak ho raha hai. Communal harmony ki baat kar rahe hai aur vahan Sajjan Kumar aur Jagdish Tyler gyaan dene ke liye aaye ho," he said, reported ANI

'What Congress built over years through development, BJP has steadily ruined with divisive politics & violence. We must be united & not let anyone disrespect our country's citizens. In this regard, our fast promotes peace & harmony in India.' Congress' Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President, Dr G Parameshwara tweeted

Delhi BJP leader Harish Khurana claims Congress leaders were earlier today seen eating at restaurant in Delhi before sitting on a protest and observing fast at Rajghat over atrocities on Dalits. (In pic, Congress leader AS Lovely) pic.twitter.com/OWsIWmwPKP

— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2018

Rahul Gandhi along with former chief minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit (Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

Rahul Gandhi with Ashok Gehlot at protest venue in New Delhi. Gehlot  has been appointed as a member of Congress central election panel (Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

Party supporters at Raj Ghat in New Delhi (Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

Also present at the protest venue are senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sheila Dikshit, Ashok Gehlot, Ajay Maken among others

Reports suggest that 1984-riot accused leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar left Raj Ghat before Rahul Gandhi joined the protest. Tytler, who was later seen in the crowd, has been long accused of instigating rioters against Sikh following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh security guards. Kumar, who left the venue, is also accused of his involvement in two cases related to riots. The charges have been proved against neither.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President Ajay Maken, however, clarified that the two leaders were not asked to leave. He said the stage and its enclosure at the venue were reserved for some Congress office-bearers. "We are praying for togetherness and for brotherhood, for all religions and castes in the country so that we can send out a message that all Indian are one and there is no division on caste basis," Maken said.

Jagdish Tytler seen leaving the Congress protest venue (ANI)

Alleging that there has been an increase in attacks against the Dalits ever since the BJP came to power, UP Congress spokesperson Dwijendra Tripathi said the unit will join the party's nation-wide fast. "The anti-Dalit mentality of the BJP has been exposed by the manner in which police carried out baton-charge on the protesters during the Bharat Bandh on April 2, the call for which was given by Dalit organisations," he said. "The BJP-led governments at the Centre and the state are trying to disturb social harmony and vitiate the atmosphere," he alleged.

Here are some glimpses of Congress party units across the country that are observing a day-long fast today to protest the rising atrocities against Dalits, adivasis, & minorities under the Modi Govt. #CongressForPeaceAndHarmony pic.twitter.com/XvPVxI3irD

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 9, 2018

Newly appointed All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Bihar Shaktisinh Gohil said that the party would hold a fast in Bihar to expose BJP's "lies and cheating". Congress is in favour of tough and strong Act for protecting the rights of people belonging to SC/ST categories, he added, reported PTI

Congress president Rahul Gandhi arrives at Raj Ghat in New Delhi (ExpressPhotoby Tashi Tobgyal)

Congress members observe fast in Mumbai (Express Photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

Meanwhile, a bandh has also been called by Dalit outfits in Kerala who are protesting against the violence which broke out during Bharat Bandh organised by Dalit organisations. Congress leader AK Anthony and Shashi Tharoor led the Congress party's fast at Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters. Read Kerala hartal LIVE updates

Joined @INCIndia leader AK Antony as he commences a day-long fast in solidarity w/ the Dalit cause with a rousing speech at KPCC headquarters. Party leaders in full strength despite today's hartal. pic.twitter.com/HABpnRjyW4

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 9, 2018

Atrocities against Dalits, adivasis, & minorities are rising under the Modi Govt. Congress Party units across India will be observing a fast today to protest against this & to promote harmony amongst various sections of society. #CongressForPeaceAndHarmony

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 9, 2018

Welcome to the live blog. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi along with party workers across the country will observe a nation-wide fast to protest against the Modi government. Follow this space to track all the developments.