After Rahul Gandhi’s reservation remarks, VBA protests outside Asim Sarode’s office, demands apology

Tayade said they were protesting in front of Sarode’s office because during Lok Sabha 2024 elections Sarode had asked for votes on behalf of the MVA insisting that the alliance would protect the constitution. In light of that, Tayade said that they had two demands. “Sarode should ask forgiveness of citizens and also publicly condemn the statement made by Rahul Gandhi”.

Arvind Shinde, Congress Pune City Chief had also arrived at Sarode’s office. While talking to media he said, “Rahul Gandhi and All India Congress Party spokesperson have already given clarification that whatever Rahul Gandhi had said in Washington has been misconstrued”.

He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had a role to play in protests happening in Pune today. “It is not in the culture of Pune city to protest in front of someone’s house. I don’t know on whose instructions VBA is doing these protests, but everyone knows that Congress believes in the constitution and supports reservations. So I request them to halt their protests”.

“First BJPs Chandrakant Patil protests near the collector’s office and then smaller organisations protest following that. This sequence can be understood by anyone. I respect Prakash Ambedkar but it is not fair of their party workers to protest against Asim Sarode”, said Shinde.

Asim Sarode said, “Why is this agitation in front of my office? Rahul Gandhi in the USA said something about reservation and which was not anything against reservation. I am definitely not concerned with the statement made by Rahul Gandhi. This may be because I will be representing Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case in Pune court, so they have chosen my office to agitate. I request the police to provide sufficient protection to me and my office premises”.

Rahul on Tuesday said that the Congress will “think of ending reservation when India is a fair place”, adding that India was not a fair place at the moment. He was addressing the Indian diaspora in Washington DC. In another interaction on Wednesday at the National Press Club, Rahul clarified that he was misquoted by some people that he was against reservation. “Let me make it clear – I am not against reservation. We will take reservations beyond the limit of 50 per cent,” Rahul said.