Following the controversy where Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha had met the accused in the Ramgarh lynching case last week, Congress President Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to ask his followers, ‘if it fills them with disgust’, to sign a petition requesting Harvard to withdraw Sinha’s degree.
If the sight of a highly educated MP & Central Minister, Jayant Sinha, garlanding & honouring criminals convicted of lynching an innocent man, fills you with disgust, click on the link & support this petition.
Sign Petition:https://t.co/K9CrzHbNOz via @ChangeOrg_India
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 10, 2018
Offended and angry at the remark, Sinha threw an open challenge to Congress President to debate with him either in Hindi or in English and not hide behind his Twitter handle, which Congress’ social media head Divya Spandana claims is run by Gandhi himself.
I invite Sh. @RahulGandhi ji to a live debate. pic.twitter.com/7c3cE18uKE
— Jayant Sinha (@jayantsinha) July 12, 2018
Sinha took an offence to the personal attack by Congress President by condemning Sinha’s education, value and humanity. He clarified his stand that he condemns vigilantism and the events that took place in Ramgarh were ‘distressing and terrible’. One meat trader Alimuddin Ansari was beaten to death on June 29 last year by a mob at the Bazaar Tand area allegedly on the suspicion that he was carrying beef in his car. The accused in the case were convicted, but it is on appeal in Ranchi High Court in Jharkhand. Asserting that the accused have constitutional rights as well and that guilt can be established only through due process since rule of law is supreme in our democracy. He expressed regret if he gave the impression that by receiving the accused, he condoned vigilantism.
On the personal attack by Rahul Gandhi, Sinha said that if Congress President thinks Sinha’s conduct is ‘disgusting’, then they should debate on it in a civilized manner. He added that Gandhi should not hide behind his social media handle and indulge in shoot and scoot politics.
Rahul Gandhi is yet to accept the challenge for a debate. And if Rahul Gandhi’s speeches are anything to go by, this debate would be very, very interesting.
