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BJP MLA Umang Bajaj said he reached the hospital after learning that journalist Richa Parashar had allegedly been mistreated.

BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari also took to X, alleging that Parashar, who he claimed was three months pregnant, had been assaulted while covering the protest.
BJP leaders on Tuesday accused Congress MP Rahul Gandhi of allegedly pushing and mistreating a pregnant journalist who was covering the opposition’s protest over alleged electoral irregularities, claiming that she was injured and admitted to hospital.
BJP MLA Umang Bajaj said he reached the hospital after learning that journalist Richa Parashar had allegedly been mistreated.
“At 10:00 PM, it came to my attention that a female journalist, Richa Parashar, had been mistreated,” Bajaj told the media.
#WATCH | BJP MLA Umang Bajaj says, “At 10:00 PM, it came to my attention that a female journalist, Richa Parashar, had been mistreated. As the local MLA, I arrived here immediately, accompanied by Pradeep Bhandari, Rajesh Bhatia, and the local Mandal President. We checked on her… pic.twitter.com/ZJJnnsUfpK— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2026
He said he was accompanied by BJP leaders Pradeep Bhandari and Rajesh Bhatia, along with the local Mandal President, and that they checked on the journalist’s well-being and ensured she was admitted to hospital.
Bajaj condemned the alleged incident, questioning how a leader who speaks of “smashing the patriarchy” could allegedly behave this way towards a woman journalist doing her job.
“I strongly condemn the fact that a person who speaks of ‘smashing the patriarchy’ would behave this way toward a female journalist who was simply doing her job,” he said.
BJP Leaders Level Allegations
BJP leader Rajesh Bhatia also alleged that the journalist had been pushed by Gandhi.
“It must be around 8 or 8.30 pm when a girl came to my office in Rajinder Nagar and requested help for her sister, who is a journalist. She said that Rahul Gandhi had pushed her sister, who is pregnant, and that she had sustained injuries and needed medical treatment,” Bhatia said.
BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari also took to X, alleging that Parashar, who he claimed was three months pregnant, had been assaulted while covering the protest. He shared a video of his meeting with the journalist in hospital.
3 month pregnant Female journalist Richa Parashar was thrashed by Rahul Gandhi when she was covering her protest!Female journalist is admitted in the hospital, and she recounts the horrror!
Every person should listen to this horror to know how big a goon Rahul Gandhi is& how… pic.twitter.com/NSc2sPIMqA
— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) October 12, 2026
The allegations could not be independently verified. There was no immediate response from Rahul Gandhi or the Congress to the claims.
Opposition’s ‘March For Democracy’
The allegations came after opposition leaders and supporters marched towards the Supreme Court in Delhi over claims of “vote chori” and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The march was led by Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, alongside several INDIA bloc leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and CPI leader D Raja.
The opposition has also demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and sought changes to the electoral process.
(With inputs from agencies)
Quick Answers
BJP leaders alleged that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi pushed and mistreated a pregnant journalist, Richa Parashar, while she was covering an opposition protest. According to BJP leaders, the journalist sustained injuries and was admitted to a hospital.
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October 13, 2026, 04:18 IST
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