BJP dismisses Rahul Gandhi's 'dharna drama' as a bid to deflect from Vande Bharat row

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday termed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's sit-in protest outside the Parliament complex a 'dharna drama', accusing him of attempting to divert attention from the ongoing Vande Bharat controversy.

Addressing reporters, BJP national spokesperson Amitabh Sharma said, "It is unfortunate that Rahul Gandhi chooses to stage such gimmicks for the cameras instead of discussing substantive issues. His so-called protest is a blatant attempt to shift the spotlight away from the questions his party has raised over the Vande Bharat railway project, which have now been proven baseless."

Gandhi began his indefinite sit-in late Sunday evening, demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the procurement and operational aspects of the Vande Bharat trains. Congress workers and leaders joined him in increasing numbers, with several raising slogans against the government.

The 'Vande row' refers to the opposition's allegations of irregularities in the manufacturing and maintenance contracts for the semi-high-speed trains, which the ruling party has strenuously denied. Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had earlier rejected the charges, saying the Vande Bharat is a symbol of indigenous technological achievement.

While the BJP has dismissed the protest as political theatre, the Congress has countered that the ruling party is avoiding scrutiny. "Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are upholding the Constitution through peaceful protest. If the government has nothing to hide, why is it afraid of a JPC?" asked senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Political analysts note that the confrontation comes at a time when the country is gearing up for several state elections, and both parties are keen to control the narrative. The dharna also coincides with the ongoing session of Parliament, where the opposition has been demanding discussions on a range of issues, including inflation and unemployment.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi posted on social media: "Our struggle is for the truth and the rights of every Indian. The government cannot silence us by calling names." The post was quickly countered by BJP's IT cell, which shared videos of Gandhi leaving the protest site briefly, questioning his commitment.

The protest, however, has failed to draw large crowds so far, and security around the Parliament premises remains tight. Police have erected barricades, and several leaders have been detained for brief periods.

Meanwhile, the Vande Bharat train service continues to run on multiple routes across the country, with hundreds of crores invested in its expansion. The government has maintained that the project is on track and that all contracts have followed due process.

As the standoff persists, the focus now shifts to whether the government will agree to the opposition's demand for a JPC, or whether the dharna will continue to be dismissed as a mere spectacle. For now, both sides appear entrenched, leaving the public to decipher the theatrics from the substance.