Jaipur, Oct 20 — The alleged assault on NSUI activist Ritu Barala during a protest against “vote theft” in Delhi has triggered a political confrontation in Rajasthan, with the Congress demanding the registration of an FIR in Jaipur.
Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra, along with party leaders and a legal team, staged an overnight sit-in at the Jaipur Police Commissionerate on Monday.
Congress leaders and workers remained at the Commissionerate throughout the night, both inside and outside the premises.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also visited the protest site. Dotasra announced that the party would gherao the Police Commissionerate on Tuesday and called upon Congress workers from across the state to reach Jaipur.
Dotasra maintained that Congress would not withdraw its protest until an FIR was registered in the case. The party has also raised questions over the police administration’s handling of the complaint.
Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully questioned the state government, asking who had tied the hands of the police administration and prevented it from registering an FIR.
“What is the BJP government's problem with delivering justice to a daughter of this state?” Jully asked, warning that the Congress would neither retreat nor bow down until an FIR was registered in the Ritu Barala case.
Earlier, Ritu Barala, accompanied by Congress leaders and a legal team, approached the Moti Dungri police station and submitted a written complaint to the Station House Officer, seeking registration of an FIR. However, no separate FIR was registered.
Around 6.15 p.m. on Monday, Congress leaders reached the Police Commissionerate. Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal was not present at the time. Dotasra spoke to him over the phone and demanded the registration of a Zero FIR against the accused, insisting that the protesters would not leave until their demand was addressed.
Gehlot arrived at the Commissionerate late Monday night from Jodhpur but left shortly afterwards.
Among those who participated in the overnight sit-in were MLAs Rafiq Khan and Amin Kagzi, former Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar, State Women’s Congress President Sarika Singh, War Room Chairman Jaswant Gurjar, Rajendra Yadav, Media Chairperson Swarnim Chaturvedi and Jaipur City Congress President Sunil Sharma.
According to Dotasra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had called him and directed him to ensure that an FIR was registered in Jaipur in connection with the case.
Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal said the incident had taken place in Delhi and a complaint had already been filed with the Delhi Police. He said police in other states had registered Zero FIRs and forwarded them to Delhi for further investigation.
“Multiple FIRs cannot be registered for the same incident,” Mittal said, adding that the complainants had been informed that their complaint was on record. Information would be sought from the Delhi Police and the state police that registered the Zero FIR to facilitate the investigation.
The Congress, however, remained firm on its demand and announced plans to intensify its protest on Tuesday.