With Congress leader Rahul Gandhi disqualified from the Lok Sabha following a lower court found him guilty of defamation and sentenced him to two years in prison, political leaders have spoken out in open and alleged BJP is behind the conspiracy.
Commenting on the decision, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter and wrote, “We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti."
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Congress leader and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on 24 March hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi government following Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha.
Expressing similar opinion, Congress president Mallikajun Kharge said, "They (BJP) tried all ways to disqualify him. They don't want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. We'll continue to demand JPC, If needed we'll go to jail to save democracy."
He added, “We've called a meeting of our senior party leaders at the party office at 5pm today. In the meeting, we will formulate our strategy as to how to proceed forward."
Earlier on 23 March, a Surat court sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark made in 2019.
Following this, Lok Sabha Secretariat on 24 March announced that the Wayanad MP has been disqualified from Lok Sabha and it would be effective from date of his conviction 23 March.
Maharashtra Congress leader and former CM Prithviraj Chavan commented, "Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as an MP. We had suspected this as soon as the two years jail term was pronounced - this is essential to cancel anyone's membership (of the House). They could have pronounced a 6-month or 1-year jail term but the 2 years term meant that they had a further plan and they did it today. I condemn this action. This shows how scared of Rahul Gandhi is Narendra Modi."
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said, "We condemn the way in which Rahul Gandhi is disqualified...On the basis of Surat Court verdict, under Modi Govt's pressure, Lok Sabha disqualified him...If action is taken on calling someone ‘chor’, we'll call them ‘daaku’."
“The day Rahul Gandhi raised questions against Adani, PM, this type of conspiracy was started to silence Rahul Gandhi. It's a clear case of anti-democratic, dictatorship attitude of BJP govt," Congress MP KC Venugopal said.
Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has referred the development as Vindictive and shameful action. She took to Twitter and wrote, "Vindictive and shameful action against Sh Rahul Gandhi. This disqualification yet again proves that we are living in the times of caged democracy."
West Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee while commenting on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification said that opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP.
“Rahul Gandhi's candidacy has been cancelled. Calling a thief, a thief has become a crime in our country. Thieves & looters are still free & Rahul Gandhi was punished. This is a direct murder of democracy. All govt systems are under pressure. This is the beginning of the end of dictatorship. Only the fight has to be given direction," said former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray.
With agency inputs.