The anti CAA violence has really brought the difference between the Congress and the BJP to the fore. While the BJP has emerged as a party with an ideological orientation, the Congress has come out looking like an opportunistic political outfit. The differences in the two parties and their priorities have also come into limelight following UP Minister, Kapil Dev Agarwal met an injured journalist.
Om Raj Saini, whose house the UP Minister visited on Thursday was injured by a bullet fired by the rioters during the anti CAA protests. Agarwal said, “I have held talks with the police and they told me Om Raj Saini was injured by a bullet while he returning from his fields. Therefore, upon the directions of Chief Minister, I visited his house and assured his family that his medical expenses will be borne by the administration.”
The minister who was targeted by the left liberals over not meeting the families of the two anti CAA protesters who died in Bijnor, made it clear that it was not a Hindu-Muslim issue. He said, “Why should I go to the homes of rioters. Those who are rioting and want to inflame passions, how are they part of society. Why should I go there? This is not about Hindu-Muslim. Why should I go to the houses of rioters?… I met a Muslim journalist who was injured during the clashes.”
Agarwal also said that the two men who died in Bijnor were involved in rioting. Therefore, the Uttar Pradesh Minister has differentiated between those who were part of the violent mobs and those who were victims of such violence, contrary to the claims of his differentiating on the basis of religious identity. This is why he visited the house of the injured journalist but skipped visiting the houses of those who were involved in violence.
On the other hand, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the families of the two rioters who died in anti CAA protests. According to Congress sources, she visited the Nehtaur area of Bijnor to meet the families of the two deceased rioters- Anas and Suleman. She also interacted with the people in the area. It ought to be mentioned here that Bijnor witnessed widespread violence in the garb of anti CAA protests. Stones and brickbats were hurled at the policemen and vehicles torched. By visiting the families of those involved in such violence, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has only further emboldened such anti social elements who will now feel vindicated.
The difference in the UP Minister and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is really representative of the wide difference in the nature and priorities of the two parties. While curbing violence is the priority of the BJP, vote bank politics is the only priority of the Congress. This is the reason why the BJP plainly refused to meet the families of the deceased rioters. However, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra gave such rioters a sense of validation by meeting the families of the deceased rioters in Bijnor.
