DK Shivakumar Rebuts BJP's Claims Over Viral Delhi Protest Video
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A viral video from the opposition's high-profile protest march in the national capital has triggered a fierce political exchange between the Congress party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Rejecting allegations circulating across social media platforms, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar firmly denied assertions that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushed him or acted disrespectfully toward him during Monday's street demonstrations. Clarifying the on-ground reality of the incident, Shivakumar stated that the interaction was rooted entirely in personal concern amid heavy crowd congestion rather than any political friction.
Clearing the Air: Why Rahul Gandhi Guided Shivakumar Toward the Convoy Vehicle
Addressing the online buzz directly, the Karnataka leader offered an eyewitness account of what transpired amid the packed demonstration:
No Physical Push: Shivakumar dismissed the claim as a fabricated political narrative, maintaining that Rahul Gandhi did not shove or mistreat him in any manner during the rally.
Crowd Safety Concerns: Explaining the sequence of events, Shivakumar noted that massive throngs of demonstrators had converged on the march, making foot movement increasingly chaotic and compressed.
Advisory to Board Vehicle: Rather than displaying hostility, Rahul Gandhi showed protective concern and advised him to step into a convoy vehicle trailing right behind the marching leaders to navigate through the dense crowd safely.
BJP Launches Fierce Offensive: Labels Incident an Insult to Karnataka's Pride
The viral video clip, originating from the opposition's "Save Democracy" march toward the Supreme Court on October 12, was quickly seized upon by the opposition benches in Karnataka:
BJP's Viral Campaign: The Karnataka unit of the BJP uploaded the video footage across social media channels, claiming the visual documentation purported to show Shivakumar being brushed aside while trying to walk alongside Gandhi.
Invoking Regional Sentiments: Targeting the Congress leadership on social platform X, the state BJP claimed that calling the Karnataka Chief Minister to Delhi only to treat him poorly on the streets was a direct insult to the self-respect of Kannadigas.
Political Capitalization: State opposition leaders asserted that voters across Karnataka would take note of the alleged public disrespect toward their elected leader, turning the brief physical interaction into a central campaign talking point.
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