Rahul caught taking a nap in LS

Did Rahul Gandhi doze off in the Lok Sabha during a discussion on the attacks on Dalits in Gujarat? The Congress vehemently rejected the allegations, claiming that Rahul was merely checking his mobile phone, even as news channels beamed “evidence” suggesting the contrary.

The BJP went to town accusing Rahul of indulging in “mere politics” over the Dalit issue, over which the Congress had stormed into the Well of the House on Wednesday morning.

“It shows that his heart is not in providing justice to Dalit victims. He just wants to indulge in politics,” Union Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot told reporters.

“Rahul dozing off on Dalit debate. Catching up sleep after partying hard all night? Utterly insensitive,” BJP spokesman G V L Narasimha Rao tweeted, posting some pictures of Rahul.

BSP supremo Mayawati also took a dig at the Congress vice-president. “Publicity is on... the Congress vice-president will go to the spot (in Gujarat), but is sleeping when the issue is being debated in the House. It shows how serious he is about the Dalit issue,” Mayawati said.

Dismissing the charges, Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury said, “How can someone sleep amid so much noise? It is so hot outside and we close our eyes inside the House to relax and get relief from the burning sensation caused from standing in the sun for long outside. The media is making up things.”

Kharge accuses BJP
Senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of raising a non-issue with the sole intention of damaging Rahul’s image.

Putting up a strong defence, Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said it was an attempt to trivialise and debase an important issue with a "false" story. "It is completely false. The last I heard checking one's cell phone was neither a crime nor amounts to negligence."