A combative Rahul Gandhi tore into Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day after he was disqualified from parliament.
Rahul Gandhi stated that the Prime Minister was scared of his next speech and used a Veer Savarkar reference to answer why he didn’t apologise over his remarks in London and during the defamation trial in which he was convicted.
“I have been disqualified as the Prime Minister is scared of my next speech. I have seen fear in his eyes. That’s why they don’t want me to speak in the Parliament,” said the Congress leader.
Responding to the BJP’s calls for apology, he said, “My name is not Savarkar. I am a Gandhi. I won’t apologise.”
He also denied the BJP’s claim that he sought international intervention in the country’s domestic affairs. He said he had asked the Speaker to allow him to respond to the allegations about his London remarks on the House floor.
“BJP leaders claimed that I am helping anti-India forces. I told the Speaker that it is my right to respond to these allegations. But he didn’t allow me,” he said. “I have only one step and that’s to fight for truth and to defend the democratic nature of this country. Disqualify me for life, jail me for life, I will continue going.”
“Do I look worried? I’m excited,” said Rahul Gandhi.
In a prompt response, the BJP reiterated its claim that Mr Gandhi insulted Other Backward Communities (OBCs) with his remark on the Modi surname.
Former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that “He is not the only one, 32 leaders have been disqualified across the country, including six from the BJP. The Congress is trying to project Rahul Gandhi as a victim for electoral gains in Karnataka.”
The congress leading figure Rahul Gandhi was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison in a defamation case by a surat court on Thursday. As a result, he was disqualified as an MP the following day, triggering a sharp response from the opposition.
Also Read: Experts Advocate Review Of IAS Bias In Regulatory Posts
