Later, AICC Treasurer Motilal Vora lodged an FIR with the police, alleging that “anti-social elements” had the intention to enter Mrs Gandhi’s residence and harm her physically. He accused the police of attacking Congressmen instead of restraining BJP hooligans.

Describing the incident as a major security lapse outside the residence of the Congress President, Mr Vora said that the Congress was shocked to see that “BJP hooligans” led by women were allowed to reach the high-security zone armed with sharp-edged weapons, lathis, stones and glass bottles. “It was only because some Congress office-bearers happened to be around that these anti-social elements were prevented from entering Mrs Gandhi’s residence,” he said.

Mr Vora said while preventing these hooligans from entering Mrs Gandhi’s residence, Ms Soni was hit on her head and was rushed to hospital.

He said several Congressmen, besides some mediapersons, were injured.

Asking how “BJP hooligans” had reached the high-security zone, Mr Vora sought an answer from the Prime Minister and the Home Minister on the events. He alleged that the police was “soft” in dealing with BJP activists.