'Our Daughter Subjected to Brutality': Congress Protests Assault on NSUI Leader
Congress leaders demand a Zero FIR for NSUI Secretary Ritu Barala, alleging police brutality and government silence in Rajasthan.
Tensions flared in Jaipur as Congress leaders staged a massive protest at the Police Commissionerate on Tuesday. The outcry follows the alleged assault of NSUI National Secretary Ritu Barala by female police personnel during a demonstration in Delhi, with party leaders now demanding the immediate registration of a Zero FIR.
Police Refusal Sparks Outrage
The conflict intensified when Congress representatives claimed that the Moti Dungri police station refused to formally register the complaint. Rafiq Khan, the Chief Whip of the Congress Legislature Party in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, detailed the struggle to get the legal process started.
According to Khan, the delegation submitted Ritu Barala’s FIR to the Moti Dungri station. While the police accepted the document and provided a counter-signed copy, the officer-in-charge allegedly refused to formally register it. When questioned, the officer reportedly stated that he could not provide an answer and directed the delegation to the Commissioner.
"We asserted that our request was entirely lawful; we were not seeking any special favors, but rather exercising our rights," Khan stated, calling upon the High Court to take cognizance of the matter.
Legal Battle and 'Zero FIR' Demands
State Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra emphasized that the party is seeking a 'Zero FIR' as per the legal framework. He specifically cited Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which mandates the registration of such reports regardless of the jurisdiction of the crime.
Dotasra revealed that after being redirected from the local station, the delegation met with Additional Commissioner Rameshwar Singh. However, instead of immediate action, they were asked to wait in a room while the official consulted his superiors.
In a biting critique of the delay, Dotasra questioned who the officials were consulting, sarcastically asking if they were seeking guidance from Home Minister Amit Shah, the Delhi Police Commissioner, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, or Prime Minister Modi.
Political Firestorm Against BJP
The incident has quickly evolved from a legal dispute into a political battle. Congress MLA Amin Kagzi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government, accusing them of maintaining a stony silence while a "daughter" of the party was mistreated.
Kagzi questioned the whereabouts of the leaders who once campaigned with the slogan 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' (Rajasthan will not tolerate), noting that 18 hours had passed without a single response from the Chief Minister or any BJP Minister.
Warning of State-wide Mobilization
The Congress leadership has warned that if the FIR is not registered, the protest will not remain confined to Jaipur. Rafiq Khan cautioned that the entire party would mobilize across Rajasthan, creating a "massive outcry" against the administration.
The protest saw high-level participation, with former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also joining the cause to support the demands for justice for the NSUI leader.