Rohtak: A video featuring Rahul Gandhi and Rohtak Congress MP Deepender Hooda during the Congress party’s protest against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in New Delhi has triggered a political controversy, with the BJP and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) alleging that “Rahul did not treat Deepender appropriately”.INLD chief Abhay Singh Chautala attacked the Congress over the video. He claimed that the footage showed Rahul pushing Deepender and forcing him to get down from the truck.Chautala criticised the Haryana Congress leadership, claiming that former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his son, Deepender, jointly weakened the party in the state. According to him, the Congress has lost its political base in Haryana, and the Hooda family no longer enjoys the public support it once commanded.BJP leader Satish Nandal also questioned Deepender’s role and his standing within the Congress. He argued that junior functionaries should remain mindful of their position and protocol when senior functionaries are present on a stage.Nandal claimed that the video showed Rahul holding Deepender Hooda by the hand and telling him to get down. According to him, the alleged episode humiliated Deepender, especially because thousands of protesters had gathered at the venue.Deepender dismissed the allegations, claiming that the incident was being portrayed out of context. He said Rahul did not ask him to get down from the truck in a manner intended to humiliate him.He said, “I was instructed to manage the situation ahead and help control the protesters. I had been entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the protest and had been involved in preparations for the event for a week.”Deepender also targeted the BJP and the INLD, accusing both parties of unnecessarily exaggerating the incident. He said some people were targeting him because of his hard work.
