New Delhi, Sep 22: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday questioned how former Congress president Sonia Gandhi got her name added in the 1980 electoral rolls despite not being a citizen of India at that time, while accusing the grand old party of “theft of democracy”.

This comes a day after a Delhi Court set aside a magisterial court’s order that had refused to filing of an FIR against Sonia Gandhi for allegedly getting her name added in the electoral rolls of 1980, three years before getting Indian citizenship.

Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said: “In 1980, Sonia Gandhi was not a citizen of India. So, a petition was filed in the court at that time questioning that when Sonia Gandhi was not a citizen of India, under what provisions was she allowed to vote?”

“Did they attempt forgery of documents, given that from 1980 to 1983, the Congress party was in power (at the Centre)? During hearing of the matter yesterday, the Sessions Court in Delhi ordered the magisterial court to investigate whether a cognizable offence has been committed—meaning, whether the Congress Party and the Gandhi-Vadra family used fake documents to make Sonia Gandhi, who was not a citizen of India in 1980, cast vote,” he said.

Bhandari underlined that if someone makes fake documents, then under Section 337 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), there can be a punishment of up to 7 years, and it is a cognizable offence.

Further, the BJP leader alleged: “Those making ‘vote chori’ allegations, are themselves involved in ‘theft of democracy’.”

“The prima facie observation of the court states that the magisterial court which had set aside the case, ‘did not use application of mind’ and it did not perform its core function of discerning the disclosure of a cognizable offence. This means that the sessions court also accepts that the ‘theft of democracy’ by Sonia Gandhi, should be probed,” he said.

Pradeep Bhandari also lashed out at Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ event in Indore, stating that individuals in public life cannot act as trolls and comedians.

“Rahul Gandhi can act like one, but a certain serious is required in public discourse which demands accountability from those holding public office,” he said.

The BJP spokesperson also asked the LoP to respond to the allegations against his mother, Sonia Gandhi.

“Rahul Gandhi, who goes around holding a copy of the Constitution, should reply regarding how Sonia Gandhi was able to vote in 1980? Did the then Indira Gandhi-led government help her by making forge papers?” he asked.

Wayanad (Kerala), Sep 22: Condemning the Bihar student’s molestation case, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said that the Central and state governments should figure out ways to ensure women’s safety at a time when crimes against women are increasing with each passing day.

Speaking to reporters in Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi said, “It’s horrible, and crimes against women are increasing. Crimes against women are just increasing. It’s become unsafe for women. It was always unsafe; it has just become more and more increasingly violent towards women.”

“I think there’s no point talking about big schemes and programmes if we can’t even ensure the safety of women on our streets. So it’s really something that all of us need to think about. Wherever there are state governments, and especially the central government, they need to think about how they are going to ensure that women feel safe,” she added.

Priyanka Gandhi’s remarks came as the Jamui molestation incident sent shockwaves across Bihar and beyond.

The incident took place late on Saturday evening in the Madwa Pahar area of Jamui district, where a minor girl student was allegedly stopped and molested by a group of youths while returning from the area. A male student accompanying her was also allegedly assaulted, according to the FIR.

The matter came to light after a video of the incident began circulating on social media on Sunday evening, prompting the district administration to contact the victim’s family and register a case.

Jamui police have arrested Nandan Yadav, the alleged prime accused in the molestation and harassment of a minor girl student, following a police encounter in which he sustained a gunshot injury to his leg, officials said on Tuesday.

He has been admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Investigators identified Yadav through a viral video of the incident. Police said he was the youth seen wearing a red gamchha in the footage that surfaced on social media.

Police have also arrested Ramashish Chaudhary, who is accused of circulating the video online. With the latest arrests, five people have been taken into custody in connection with the case so far, including three juveniles.

Additionally, police said FIRs have been registered against operators of 120 social media profiles across multiple platforms for alleged violations related to the circulation of the content. They said that the individuals are accused of sharing the video or disclosing information that could reveal the identity of the minor victim.

Hyderabad, Sep 22: The dance by a woman with a python around her neck during the Ganesh immersion procession in Hyderabad has created a stir.

A dance group from Visakhapatnam used an Indian Rock Python during a Ganesh immersion procession in Jawhar Nagar.

The Greater Hyderabad Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GHSPCA) and police rescued the python and a hen used in the dance performance on Sunday night.

Members of GHSPCA, along with the police officers from Madhura Nagar Police Station, took action when the group from Visakhapatnam was performing during the Ganesh immersion procession.

According to GHSPCA, the python was found with an oral infection. It is now under veterinary care.

The rescue operation was conducted after the group was tracked for nearly five days by the GHSPCA with the help of police.

The python is a protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

GHSPCA members had been tracking the group following information that a live snake was allegedly being used in public shows.

The group, including women, had been performing at various places in Hyderabad as part of the ongoing Ganesh Chaturthi festivities.

The group from Visakhapatnam had performed at Kondapur on September 19. However, the snake handler fled before the GHSPCA team could apprehend him. The next day, the team, in coordination with the police, managed to catch him. A python and a hen were found in his possession.

On a complaint by the animal activists, police registered a case and took up further investigation.

Last year, the GHSPCA rescued eight cobras from snake charmers in Hyderabad. The snake charmers were displaying cobras by keeping them in crates at Sri Yellamma Thali Devalayam, Suramgutta, under the limits of Adibatla Police Station.

The organisation has been appealing to people to inform them if they spot snake charmers. Its volunteers work actively during Naga Panchami to rescue snakes.