Rahul Gandhi Disqualification: In his first media interaction after being disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that examples of attacks on democracy in India keep coming forth every day. He said that everything is being done to divert attention from one core question.
“I have said many times before that democracy is being attacked in the country. We are seeing examples of this each day. I asked questions in the Parliament regarding the relationship between PM Modi and Adani,” Gandhi said.
He added, “My speech in Parliament was expunged, and later I wrote a detailed reply to the Lok Sabha Speaker. Some ministers lied about me, that I sought help from foreign powers. But there is no such thing I have done. I will not stop asking questions, I will keep questioning the relationship between PM Modi and Adani.”
He said that he asked only one question on Adani, adding ” I will continue to ask questions and fight for democracy in India.”
Gandhi alleged that the whole drama has been orchestrated to defend the Prime Minister from the simple question- ‘Who’s Rs 20,000 crore went to Adani’s shell companies?’. “I am not scared of these threats, disqualifications or prison sentences,” he added.
He said, “I am not interested in anything but the truth. I only speak the truth, it is my work and I will keep doing it even if I get disqualified or get arrested. This country has given me everything and that is why I do this.”
WATCH | ‘मुझे इनसे डर नहीं लगता, सवाल पूछना बंद नहीं करूंगा’: @RahulGandhihttps://t.co/smwhXURgtc #Delhi #RahulGandi #PMModi #BJP #Congress pic.twitter.com/wq0sHRcEoP
— ABP News (@ABPNews) March 25, 2023
He was addressing a press conference at AICC headquarters in Delhi. This was the first full-fledged address by Gandhi since his disqualification as Lok Sabha MP on Friday. This came after a Surat court on Thursday held Rahul Gandhi guilty in the criminal defamation case for his ‘Modi Surname’ remark in 2019 during the Lok Sabha polls campaign. While opposition parties led by Congress intensified their attack on the BJP-led Centre, the latter maintained that Gandhi was sentenced as per law.
If Rahul Gandhi does not get relief in his appeal, forget about 2024, he will lose eight years before he could even contest any polls. The Lok Sabha website shows three seats including Jalandhar, Lakshadweep and Wayanad as vacant.
As per legal experts, since it’s a criminal case, Rahul Gandhi cannot directly approach the high court or Supreme Court. He would first have to appeal in the Gujarat Sessions Court and then Gujarat High Court.
The Congress party is preparing to challenge the decision both legally and politically.
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted a video of Rahul Gandhi asking questions on Adani issue in Lok Sabha and wrote in caption, “Rahul Gandhi is being attacked for these questions. When the public servant elected by the public asked questions on behalf of the public, Adani-servant conspired to suppress the voice of the public servant.”
“But the voice of the public cannot be suppressed. These questions will now resonate across the country and will have to be answered,” she further said.
इन्हीं सवालों के लिए राहुल गांधी जी पर हमला किया जा रहा है। जनता द्वारा चुने हुए जनसेवक ने जनता की तरफ से सवाल पूछे तो अडानी-सेवक ने जनसेवक की आवाज दबाने की साजिशें रच डालीं।
लेकिन जनता की आवाज दबाई नहीं जा सकती। ये सवाल अब देश भर में गूंजेंगे और जवाब देना होगा। https://t.co/UsQvzgLO1n pic.twitter.com/GhDX4hpHp2
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 25, 2023
Meanwhile, the workers of Madhya Pradesh Congress are protesting in Bhopal with locks tied on masks they’re wearing to show ‘their voices are being silenced’ on Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification. Whereas, BJP leaders are staging agitation against Rahul Gandhi in Maharashtra
#BREAKING | भोपाल में एमपी कांग्रेस का प्रदर्शन
– राहुल के समर्थन में कांग्रेस का प्रदर्शन @AdarshJha001 | @brajeshabpnews | https://t.co/smwhXUROiK #Congress #RahulGandhi #MP #Bhopal #PMModi pic.twitter.com/jQunYi58SY
— ABP News (@ABPNews) March 25, 2023
#BREAKING | महाराष्ट्र में BJP का प्रदर्शन
– राहुल गांधी के खिलाफ सड़क पर उतरी BJP@AdarshJha001 | @surajojhaa | https://t.co/smwhXURgtc #Congress #RahulGandhi #Maharashtra #PMModi #BJP pic.twitter.com/KIqx4hEFiR
— ABP News (@ABPNews) March 25, 2023
Reacting to Congress’ allegations that Rahul Gandhi was disqualified because he was vocal on Adani row, former Union Minister Prakash Javdekar told ABP News that it was the court that gave the verdict, and not the Central government.
WATCH | राहुल पर बदले की कार्रवाई नहीं- पूर्व केंद्रिय मंत्री प्रकाश जावडेकर@anchorjiya | https://t.co/smwhXUROiK #Congress #RahulGandhi #PMModi #BJP pic.twitter.com/VKPqtksMH3
— ABP News (@ABPNews) March 25, 2023
On the same issue, former Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad told ABP News that the action against Rahul Gandhi has been taken as per the law.
WATCH | कानून के तहत राहुल गांधी पर कार्रवाई- रविशंकर प्रसाद @AdarshJha001 | https://t.co/smwhXUROiK #Congress #RahulGandhi #PMModi #BJP pic.twitter.com/vPXNc1GMhv
— ABP News (@ABPNews) March 25, 2023
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav reacted and said, “National parties always insulted regional parties. First, it was done by Congress and now BJP does this…This is a chance for them (Congress), they should keep the regional party forward and then fight in the elections then only they can win against BJP. This is the responsibility of Congress.”
JDU National President Rajeev Ranjan (Lalan) Singh alleged that the Centre has an active role in the entire development. He said, “The manner in which the decision has been taken regarding Rahul Gandhi within 24 hours shows that the central government is in desperation.”
#WATCH राहुल गांधी के संबंध में 24 घंटे के अंदर जिस प्रकार से फैसला लिया गया है वह दर्शाता है कि केंद्र सरकार हताशा में है। लोकतंत्र की प्रक्रिया होती है, कार्ट का फैसला चुनाव आयोग में जाता है। चुनाव आयोग के माध्यम से वे स्पीकर के पास जाता है। ये सारी प्रक्रिया 10 घंटे में करना… pic.twitter.com/FJK9ZIVaEp
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) March 25, 2023
He added, “There is a process of democracy, the decision of the court goes to the Election Commission. Then it goes to the Speaker through the Election Commission. The entire process was done in 10 hours which shows that the central government is actively involved in this.”
