Union minister Jayant Sinha, who has come under attack for felicitating convicted cow vigilantes, on Thursday challenged Congress president Rahul Gandhi to a live debate on the 2017 Ramgarh lynching case.
In a tweet, Sinha dared Gandhi to debate in a civilised manner in Hindi or English, and not hide behind social media handles and practise shoot-and-scoot politics.
He said Gandhi had taken the attack to a personal level and condemned his education, values and humanity, and asked him to take the public forum “if he thinks that my personal conduct is ‘disgusting’”.
Gandhi had on Tuesday said the felicitation of convicts was ‘disgusting’ and sought support for a petition that seeks withdrawal of Sinha’s Harvard alumni status.
{{/usCountry}}Gandhi had on Tuesday said the felicitation of convicts was ‘disgusting’ and sought support for a petition that seeks withdrawal of Sinha’s Harvard alumni status.
{{/usCountry}}Sinha had last Thursday welcomed seven cow vigilantes, convicted for lynching a Muslim meat trader in Ramgarh in June last year. The convicts went to Sinha’s residence their release from jail on bail.
The Hazaribagh MP on Saturday justified his action, stating that he was merely “honouring the due process of law” by doing so.
He later clarified that he was against vigilantism and wanted those indulging in it to be punished. By “welcoming” the convicts, he “did not condone vigilantism”, he said and expressed regrets “if that was the impression I gave”.
The high court has suspended the sentence of the accused and released them on bail while admitting their case. The case will heard again.
Yashwant Sinha, his father and former BJP leader, said he did not approve of his son’s action.