Congress' protest against 'Rafale Scam' makes news for other reasons

The Congress party in Karnataka protested against alleged irregularities in the Rafale deal on Wednesday morning in Bengaluru. But interestingly the protest made news for other reasons. Along with the protesters who had assembled for the protest was Congress MLA NA Haris' son Mohammed Nalapad.

Nalapad was in the news a few months ago for his involvement in an assault case. He even spent some time behind bars before coming out on bail. Nalapad sporting a Congress shawl led the protests from the front. Congress workers shouted slogans against the BJP and alleged that there was a massive cover-up in the Rafale deal.

Apparently, the Congress legislator's son was introduced as the Bengaluru district secretary by some of the speakers in the protest. Earlier the then KPCC chief G Parameshwara had ousted Nalapad from the party for six years as cops were probing the case.

When confronted by the media and asked on what capacity he is taking part in the protest, Nalapad said, " I'm joining the protest as an Indian citizen" and evaded further questions. He however spoke at length and alleged that BJP was involved in many irregularities in the Rafale deal.

On September 10th as well Nalapad was spotted at a Congress rally in Bengaluru. But KPCC working President Eshwar Khandre claimed he was unaware of it, "I don't know. I will examine it. We will look into the issue. If there is a protest going on in the city against the centre everyone has a right to take part in it. Why should anybody be denied? The matter is still in the court. He has not been announced guilty yet."

The BJP slammed Congress for allowing Nalapad to lead the protests. "The Congress party is encouraging goonda culture by allowing Nalapad to lead the protest by youth Congress workers. He was booked on serious charges and was the face of goondaism during the assembly elections. He being reinstated in the Congress party is very unfortunate."

While the Congress party continues to deny an official reinstatement of Nalapad.  It seems that there could be a behind the door deal. It however does not convey a good message to the people as the party gears up to fight a highly competitive Lok Sabha polls in 2019.