Full Breakdown
Alleged Assault on Pregnant Journalist During Delhi Protest
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident at the Supreme Court
On October 12, 2026, a protest by the opposition INDIA bloc gathered at the Supreme Court in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and reforms to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Richa Parashar, a three-month-pregnant reporter for OneIndia, says she was near a gate to obtain a soundbite from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi when the confrontation occurred. She was admitted to a Delhi hospital later that evening; doctors reported no serious internal injuries.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 12 2026 | Parashar reports being pulled and pushed by Rahul Gandhi and his security while covering the protest. |
| Oct 13 2026 | BJP leaders visit the hospital and accuse Gandhi of assault; Congress leaders deny the incident. |
Official Statements & Responses
- Delhi BJP vice-president Rajesh Bhatia said a sister of the journalist approached him around 8–8:30 p.m., after which he contacted MLA Umang Bajaj and proceeded to the hospital.
- Congress party called the claims “false” and “BJP-manufactured propaganda,” citing videos that, in their view, do not clearly show Gandhi pushing the journalist.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Rahul Gandhi, who speaks of 'smashing the patriarchy', behaved like a goon today. You might have seen how he shoved his own Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, backwards. He elbows his own workers, and the way he manhandled a female journalist makes it clear that Rahul Gandhi is a man filled with hatred, in every fibre of his being, for this country's democracy and its women,” — Pradeep Bhandari, BJP spokesperson
- “It was around 8:00 or 8:30 PM when a young woman approached me near the office in Rajendra Nagar. She explained that her sister, a journalist, had been pushed by Rahul Gandhi; she was pregnant, had sustained injuries, and required medical attention. She asked for our help,” — Rajesh Bhatia
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Video evidence: Grainy footage from the Supreme Court does not unambiguously show Gandhi physically pushing the journalist. Both parties cite the same videos to support their narratives.
- Timeline discrepancies: Alka Lamba highlighted a gap between the alleged push (3–4 p.m.) and the hospital admission (around 8:30 p.m.). Bhatia’s account places the sister’s appeal to the BJP at 8–8:30 p.m., aligning with the later hospital visit.
- Medical procedures: Lamba questioned reports of an X-ray, noting it is atypical for a pregnant patient; Parashar later said doctors performed an ultrasound after learning of her pregnancy.
Why It Matters
The episode has become a flashpoint in the political contest surrounding the SIR protest. BJP leaders have framed the alleged assault as hypocritical, contrasting Gandhi’s advocacy for “smashing the patriarchy” with the purported physical act. Congress portrays the accusations as a partisan attempt to undermine its leadership ahead of electoral-process reforms. The incident also raises concerns about the safety of journalists, especially pregnant reporters, covering high-tension political events.