Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on February 6, said he offered a biscuit to a dog owner to feed the animal after it refused to eat from his hands. His clarification came after a video showing him offering a biscuit rejected by a dog to a person went viral on social media, with BJP leaders alleging this was how he treated workers of his party.
"The dog was nervous and shivering...When I gave it a biscuit, the dog got scared. Then, I gave the biscuit to the owner, saying it will eat from your hand. Then, the owner gave it and the dog ate the biscuit. So, what is the issue?" Mr. Gandhi told reporters when queried about it. "I don't understand what is the BJP's obsession with the dog?" Mr. Gandhi added.
The video was shot in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Feb. 4 during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, party spokesperson Rakesh Sinha said. The owner of the dog, expressing happiness, said, "The dog got clicked with Rahul Gandhi, who also offered it biscuits."