The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, 15 October launched a sharp attack on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, declaring it 'unfortunate' for India to have an 'anarchic individual' in that role, after the Supreme Court issued a notice seeking a response over protests and sloganeering on its premises on 12 October.

BJP's Charges Against Rahul Gandhi

BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, addressing a press conference in New Delhi, accused the Indian National Congress (Congress) of disrespecting the Constitution, the judiciary, and the dignity of women police personnel. 'Everyone knows the kind of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi is. The people of the country also believe that it is unfortunate for India to have such an anarchic, immature, irresponsible individual, who is ignorant of the Constitution, serving as the Leader of the Opposition,' Bhatia said.

The BJP spokesperson questioned whether the constitutional right to protest could be stretched to justify what he termed 'hooliganism and sloganeering' on the premises of the apex court. He characterised the INDIA bloc's march on 12 October toward the Supreme Court as an attempt to use 'mob pressure to intimidate the Judiciary.'

Supreme Court Notice and the Deleted Social Media Post

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Congress, Rahul Gandhi, and other INDIA bloc leaders on a petition challenging the march toward the apex court, as well as a since-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) targeting Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant. The post, attributed to the Kerala Congress handle, was deleted after it drew widespread attention.

Bhatia alleged the deletion reflected a pattern: 'The Congress party, true to its habit of causing damage first and then running away from responsibility, deleted the post.' He maintained that the 'threats and such a mindset' had emerged at the behest of Rahul Gandhi.

Allegations Over Women Police Personnel

A significant portion of the BJP's attack centred on alleged misconduct toward women police personnel during the protest. The Supreme Court's notice had flagged 'misconduct' and 'indecent behaviour' toward uniformed women officers. Bhatia alleged that visuals showed Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra 'hitting, elbowing, and pushing a woman police officer,' after which, he claimed, she 'retreats into her Z-plus security cover and escapes accountability.'

He underscored that preventing any police officer from discharging their official duty constitutes an offence under India's penal laws, and accused Congress of 'double standards' — invoking women's dignity during Navratri while allegedly allowing misconduct against women in uniform.

Political Context and What Comes Next

The BJP's broadside comes amid a broader political flashpoint over the INDIA bloc's protests against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), which culminated in the 12 October march toward the Supreme Court. The apex court's decision to issue a notice has handed the ruling party a fresh line of political attack against the opposition.

Congress has not yet formally responded to the Supreme Court notice. The party's reply, once filed, is expected to shape the next phase of both the legal proceedings and the political narrative around the episode. All eyes are now on the Supreme Court's handling of the petition and whether the opposition doubles down on or distances itself from the protest tactics.