First to address the media following his disqualification, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP-led Central government of ‘targeting’ him for questioning the supposed link between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and businessman Gautam Adani.
“My parliamentary address was excised, and I subsequently penned a lengthy response to the Lok Sabha Speaker.” Several ministers fabricated the claim that I sought assistance from foreign forces. But I have done nothing of the like. I would continue to inquire into the link between Prime Minister Modi and Adani, he added.
First Post-Disqualification Speech Rashes Adani
Saturday, the Congress intensified its campaign and conducted a national rally against Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha.
Gandhi was banned from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted in a 2019 criminal defamation case for his comment against the ‘Modi surname’ by a Surat court. The Congress intends to pursue legal action and petition the court to overturn Gandhi’s conviction in the criminal defamation case and his rapid expulsion from the House of Commons.
The Congress, in announcing the nationwide uprising, stated that the administration proceeded with rapid speed to “muzzle” Gandhi and called for the opposition to unite in a methodical manner.
As a form of protest over Rahul Gandhi’s exclusion from the Loksabha, the Wayanad District Congress Committee has stated that today will be “Black Day.”
Congress calls for a coordinated opposition expansion
Friday, following Gandhi’s disqualification by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the Congress leadership convened at the party’s headquarters to discuss the next steps. Top Congress leaders, including former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Rajiv Shukla and Tariq Anwar, and senior leaders P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, Mukul Wasnik, Salman Khurshid and Pawan Kumar Bansal, among others, attended the meeting where the party decided to launch a “
Ramesh, general secretary of the Congress, stated, “We will canvass the entire nation since Rahul Gandhi was intentionally disqualified for speaking out against the Modi administration on the Adani problem, on the government’s foreign policy, and on the clean chit given to China for border intrusions.”
According to Ramesh, the BJP was shaken by the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which became a movement. The Congress leadership also appreciated the opposition leaders’ professions of support, he added, adding that “we must now forward the topic of opposition unity in a methodical manner.”
“It was highlighted today that other opposition parties have denounced the unilateral, lightning-fast effort to disqualify Rahul Gandhi,” he added.
“It is also encouraging to notice that parties that were not involved in this floor coordination have now published public remarks criticizing this move,” Ramesh remarked.
He stated that the state units and frontline organizations of the Congress will conduct nationwide programs beginning on Monday with a nationwide agitation.
“We will spread the word across the country that Rahul Gandhi was intentionally disqualified because he has spoken out against the Modi administration on a variety of subjects, including demonetisation, GST, foreign policy, and the government’s objectives and policies,” Ramesh added.
“Understand The Timeline”
Insisting that people “understand the timeline,” the Congress leader stated that nine days after Gandhi’s Adani address in Lok Sabha on February 7, the complainant expedited the defamation action against him by withdrawing his own stay in the high court on February 16.
After a year, arguments started on February 27 and were reserved on March 17, he said, adding that the result was announced on March 23. “This is not a mere coincidence,” Ramesh continued.
Later, he tweeted that the prime minister was exploiting the G20 to declare India to be the “Mother of Democracy.”
Ramesh asserted, “That Mother is mourning today over the murder of democracy in India.”
The Conviction and Disqualification of Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi was banned from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after his conviction in the Modi surname defamation case. The Gandhi scion who represents Kerala’s Wayanad parliamentary constituency was disqualified in accordance with Article 102 (1) (e) of the Indian Constitution and Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act.
Thursday, a Surat court sentenced Rahul to two years in prison for his “Modi surname” statement in a 2019 criminal defamation case. The charge against Rahul was initiated on a complaint by BJP Legislator Purnesh Modi for his claimed comment, “How come all the criminals have Modi as the common surname?”
BJP’s Response
During a news conference in New Delhi, Union Minister Anurag Thakur responded to the Congress’ charges regarding Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as a Lok Sabha member by stating that Rahul is “the embodiment of unparliamentary behavior” and that the people of Wayanad had gotten rid of him.
He further stated, “A Lok Sabha member for so long, from 2009 to 2014.” Throughout the past five years, I have never been able to challenge Amethi. Engaged in just 21 arguments during the course of these years. This reveals something about them. “Rahul Gandhi believes he is superior to the Indian government, the law, and the people.”
“Using impolite language, insulting others, and using foul language had been his custom. He once believed that he could say anything without repercussions. No one in the country is permitted to speak to you. He believed himself to be superior to everything, the BJP leader remarked.
During a joint news conference, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated, “Rahul Gandhi has been found guilty in a defamation case and sentenced to two years in jail. According to the legislation, conviction results in exclusion from membership in parliament.”
In addition, he stated, “The Congress party, particularly Rahul’s family, desires a distinct IPC for him. According to the IPC, he should not be convicted. They desire a distinct legal system for him. Unfortunately, they fail to see that in a democracy, the law applies equally to everyone.”
