The tension between the BJP and Congress has continued to soar since the suspension of Rahul Gandhi's membership from the lower house of the parliament last week. The Congress party has accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government of trampling democracy. The BJP rebutted that Gandhi's disqualification from the parliament is as per the law and denied any political intervention.
Following Gandhi's disqualification as an MP from the Wayanad seat, several opposition leaders have extended support to the grand old party and slammed the Centre.
on Monday, the opposition parties launched a 'black protest'. Yesterday, the Congress party took out Loktantra Bachao Mashaal Shanti march in old Delhi.
However, Delhi police, which comes under the Central government, detained the protestors in order to clamp down the protest. Congress leader Harish Rawat who was also detained by the Delhi Police said that the Central government "is scared" of Opposition unity.
The Congress has announced a month-long protest programme over the disqualification after he was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison in a defamation case from 2019 last week.
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'Everything fine', says Sanjay Raut after meeting Sonia, Rahul
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday met former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and said "everything is fine", signalling an end to the row over V D Savarkar.
The Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena was upset over Rahul Gandhi's strident attack of Savarkar, a revolutionary leader revered in Maharashtra, leading to friction in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi coalition with the Congress and NCP in the state.
Plea challenging Rahul's conviction to be moved soon: Reports
A petition challenging Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction and sentencing by a trial court in Surat in a defamation case is ready and is likely to be filed very soon, people familiar with the matter told news agency PTI on Wednesday.
Rahul Gandhi was convicted and was given a two-year sentence in the 2019 defamation case over his remarks on Modi surname, following which he was disqualified as MP of Lok Sabha.
Rahul visits Cong's office in Parliament House complex
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday visited the party's office in the Parliament House complex and met some members there. Gandhi spent around 20 minutes at the party office and met Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and others. He later left along with his mother and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi for lunch. He did not talk to media. Congress leaders K C Venugopal and Adhir Ranjan Chowdury were also present at the party's parliamentary office.
(PTI)
EC 'not in hurry' for Wayanad bypoll as Rahul Gandhi has 1 month to file appeal
There is no hurry to declare byelection to the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat as the trial court has given Rahul Gandhi, who was disqualified by the Lok Sabha, one month to file an appeal.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the poll panel has taken decisions on vacancies that have occurred till February.
During the press conference, the CEC said the Surat trial court has given Rahul Gandhi 30 days too seek a judicial remedy the matter.
"There is no hurry, we will wait. There is not hurry to do it before exhausting that particular remedy which the trial court had accorded. We will take a call after that," Kumar said.
He said the vacancy in the Wayanad parliamentary party was notified on March 23 this year and as per the law, a bypoll has to be conducted within six months.
Kumar said the law also states that if the remainder of the term was less than one year, then the election will not be held. The CEC said that in the case of Wayanad, the remainder of the term is more than a year.
Assam Assembly: 3 MLAs suspended on ruckus over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification
As the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha sparked a united outrage by opposition parties, its heat was also felt in the ongoing Assam state assembly on Wednesday. The assembly witnessed a ruckus after the Congress introduced an adjournment motion to discuss the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha following a court verdict.
During teh chaos, speaker Biswajit Daimary was forced to adjourn the House twice. Moreover, he suspended two Congress MLAs and an Independent legislator for the day.
As soon as the Question Hour was over, Daimary allowed Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia to raise the notice and asked him to speak on the admissibility of the motion.
"We want to send a resolution to the President of India requesting her to uphold the Constitution. The Constitution is same for all and the executive must act fairly to protect it," the Congress leader said.
The leader also mentioned various clauses of the Constitution in relation to the disqualification of a parliamentarian and claimed of its violation.
Amid ruckus, Lok Sabha adjourned for the day after passing Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022
Amid ruckus over the formation of Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe on Adani issue and disqualification of Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha was adjourned at 12 pm after passing the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Rajya Sabha proceedings adjurned till 2 pm today
Amid ruckus by opposition, Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjurned minutes after it began till 2 pm on Wednesday. Minutes after assembling, the opposition MPs kept raising slogans demanding a JPC probe into the allegations against the Adani Group.
MPs of the Congress and other parties, several of them dressed in black, started raising slogans such as "Modi-Adani Bhai Bhai" as soon as Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar took his seat. Amid slogan shouting, listed papers were tabled in the House.
He is corrupt himself, not saying anything to those who looted the country, Mallikarjun Kharge on PM Modi
Calling out upon PM Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said PM Modi is corrupt himself and he is not even saying anything to those who looted the country and no investigation has been done against them.
“JPC is not being constituted, so has he joined hands with the corrupt people?" said Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Is Rahul Gandhi above the law...: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Launching an attack on Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said that Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the parliament because of his “arrogance". He also alleged that the Congress leader considers it his "birthright" to rule the country since he is born in a certain family.
TMC MPs to protest against Centre in Parliament over issue of ‘Save Democracy’
After showing support to Rahul Gandhi and Congress, TMC will protest at Ambedkar Statue in the Parliament at 10 am on Wednesday. The protest coincides with a two-day dharna by party chief Mamata Banerjee, who will protest against the centre in Kolkata.
The TMC will hold the protest against the centre for allegedly not disburing funds for West Bengal and the Centres “anti-people policies".
Opposition parties likely to bring no-confidence motion against Om Birla
Congress and other Opposition parties are contemplating moving a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla next week on the ground that opposition members are not being allowed to speak, according to the agencies report.
We'll go to judiciary but we'll also go to people in every village, says Harish Rawat
Congress leaders were detained during the 'Loktantra Bachao Mashaal Shanti March'
Savarkar row: Congress to tone down attack after Pawar's intervention
Amid strains in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi alliance over Rahul Gandhi's strident criticism of V D Savarkar, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has stepped in to play the peacemaker by conveying Shiv Sena's concerns on the issue to the Congress leadership. Read here
Congress leader Srinivas heckled by police: We were given permission
Congress leader Srinivas heckled by police
Sec 144 issued in Red Fort area ahead of Congress' Mashaal March
Congress leaders being detained at Red Fort by Delhi Police after being denied permission for ‘Loktantra Bachao Mashal Shanti March’ citing Sec 144 of CrPC
Fear the dictator…: Congress tweets
Congress tweets in Hindi, Fear the dictator. Parliament gets muted as soon as Adani's name comes up. If there is a demonstration on the road, the police gets it installed.
There is a fear that the secret of '20 thousand crores' may not be revealed.
Delhi police heckle Congress workers, detains many
Delhi police heckle Congress workers, detains many. Delhi Congress chief, Youth Congress chief, others were detained ahead of the protest.
Will not stop till PM Modi gives an answer on the Adani scam: Congress
Congress leader Anil Kumar said, until PM Modi gives an answer on the Adani scam, the government will not give an account.. we will not stop till the answer is given.. every worker of Congress will ask questions and agitate until the answer is received.. because this question is for the country.
Not even ‘letting us stand’ at the Red Fort premises: Cong worker
Congress workers allege Delhi police are not letting them participate in the peace march, not even ‘letting them stand’ at the Red Fort premises
The dictator got scared of 'Satya' and ‘Satyagraha’: Congress
Congress tweets in Hindi, The dictator got scared of 'Satya' and 'Satyagraha'.
A large number of police were deployed near the Red Fort to stop the peaceful 'torch march' of the Congress.
Congress colleagues are being detained from every corner of Delhi.
Congress workers raise slogan ‘Modi-Adani bhai bhai’ at Mashaal march
Congress workers raise slogan ‘Modi-Adani bhai bhai’ at Mashaal march
BRS leaders also join Congress Loktantra Bachao Shanti March near Red Fort
BRS leaders also join Congress Loktantra Bachao Shanti March near Red Fort
Delhi police reach Red Fort ahead of Congress Mashaal March
Delhi police reach Red Fort ahead of Congress Mashaal March. Watch video
P. Chidambaram, Adhir Chaudhury at Red Fort
Former Union Home Minister Mr P. Chidambaram, senior Congress leader Adhir Chaudhury and other MPs reach Red Fort to participate in the Mashaal march
Congress allege Delhi Police stopped them ahead of Mashaal March
The Delhi Police is stopping us from taking out the Loktantra Bachao Mashal Shanti March from Red fort, and did not allow us to reach the venue!, Congress tweeted
However, this has not deterred us, and we have begun our march from the police barricades itself.
Congress leaders, workers detained at Red Fort ahead of Mashaal march
Congress leaders and workers were detained by police as they gathered at Red Fort for 'Loktantra Bachao Mashaal Shanti March' till Town Hall.
Rahul Gandhi to address a public meeting on Modi surname remark
Amid the protests by the Congress against his disqualification from the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on April 5 will address a public meeting at Kolar in poll-bound Karnataka, the same place where he made the remark for which he was convicted of criminal defamation and stripped off his membership of the Lower House.
Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, a senior Congress member in Karnataka said the disqualified MP will return to Kolar for a campaign event on April 5.
It was in Kolar that Rahul made the remark using the surname 'Modi' while headlining a campaign rally for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Cong moots bringing no-confidence motion against Speaker
The Congress is in talks with other opposition parties to consider moving a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla over his alleged bias, sources said on Tuesday.
They said the proposal to bring a motion was mooted at the meeting of party MPs this morning and Congress leaders are now talking to other party leaders over it.
The motion is likely to be brought on Monday in the Lok Sabha but some parties are opposed to the move, saying it may hurt the momentum of opposition unity.
The no-confidence motion will highlight the pace at which Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as MP -- within hours of his conviction by a Surat court in a defamation case over his remarks on the prime minister's surname.
Savarkar's name being 'blackened'…: Venkaiah Naidu
Former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said it was unfortunate that V D Savarkar's name was being "blackened needlessly" by those who seem to be ignorant of his "matchless sacrifice" during the freedom struggle.
Without naming anyone, he said the country's heroes and nationalists deserve utmost respect.
"Those who criticise Veer Savarkar should first inform themselves of his contribution and selfless sacrifice in the cause of the freedom struggle, before they attempt to tarnish his reputation," Naidu said in a Facebook post.
His remarks come amid a political row over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi using Savarkar's name to hit out at the ruling BJP.
All Cong MPs to participate in ‘Mashaal’ march today
All MPs and leaders of the Congress party will take part in the 'Loktantra Bachao Mashaal Shanti March' from Red Fort to Town Hall at 7pm today, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said.
In the next 30 days, 'Jai Bharat Satyagrah' will be organised at the block, state and national levels across the country with the participation of party's leaders and workers
Rahul Gandhi is a ‘serial offender’ with 7 defamation cases: BJP
Why no eminent lawyer of the Congress came to the aid of Rahul Gandhi when he was convicted in a defamation case leading to his disqualification from Parliament, Union Minister Anurag Thakur asked on Tuesday and wondered if it was deliberate and part of a conspiracy within the party.
Thakur, addressing the 'Times Network India Digital Fest', also described Gandhi as a "loose cannon" and a "serial offender" who has seven cases of defamation in various courts even after being cautioned by the apex court.
The Information and Broadcasting Minister made it clear that neither the government nor the Lok Sabha secretariat had any role to play in the former Congress president's disqualification from the Lok Sabha.
Thakur said that according to the Representation of the People Act, Rahul Gandhi stood disqualified the moment he was sentenced to a two-year jail term in a criminal defamation case.
Rahul Gandhi's disqualification is a conspiracy: Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha under a conspiracy.
Gandhi was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member on March 24, a day after he was sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case.
"Rahul Gandhi's membership of parliament was terminated... This was done under a conspiracy," Gehlot said.
The Rajasthan chief minister was speaking at the inauguration of the students' union office at the government-run Dungar College in Bikaner.
Claiming that the success of Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' worried the BJP leaders, Gehlot reiterated that democracy is under threat and no one knows in which direction India is heading.
If Centre is not guilty, why is it running away…: Congress
This government doesn't want to listen to anything on the Adani scam. Today also, we demanded JPC inquiry into this scam. If the govt is not guilty, why is it running away from forming a JPC on this issue? Congress leader KC Venugopal said as reported by ANI
Fight not meant for Rahul Gandhi but to safeguard democracy: Congress
The Congress' campaign following Rahul Gandhi's "hasty disqualification" from the Lok Sabha is meant to safeguard democracy and highlight corruption in the country, senior leader Ajay Maken said on Tuesday.
The former Union minister also reiterated the party's demand for setting up a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe into the allegations against the Adani Group.
"Look at the sequence of events, which culminated in the hasty disqualification of Gandhi -- who raised serious questions on the links between (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi and Adani in Parliament. Instead of getting answers, he was disqualified which we see as democracy-disqualified.
"Our fight is not for Rahul (Gandhi) but it is meant to safeguard democracy in the country. We will continue our protest to expose corruption and safeguard the interests of the common citizens, who are becoming victims of crony capitalism," Maken told reporters at the Congress' headquarters here.
Gandhi was on March 23 sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case. The two-year jail term triggered his disqualification as a Lok Sabha member from the date of the verdict.
Rahul, 'sanskar' of Sonia …: Irani slams Congress
Union Minister Smriti Irani has accused the Congress party leadership of making indecent remarks against her through its youth wing president, Srinivas BV. Irani claims that the comments made by Srinivas were reflective of the teachings and values of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.
She further alleged that Congress members who seek promotion will continue to use such language against her as long as the Gandhis are in power. The Congress had organized the Sankalp Satyagrah at Rajghat to protest the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a Lok Sabha member.
Leave if you cannot tolerate Savarkar's insult: Maha BJP chief to Uddhav
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday dared Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray to walk out of Maha Vikas Aghadi if he really cannot tolerate late Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar's "insult" by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Addressing a press conference, Bawankule said the country can never forget the contribution of Savarkar. Gandhi's "My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone" remark has drawn fire from BJP.
Congress Mashal march today at 7pm. Check the routes here
The Congress party has organized a protest march named 'Loktantra Bachao Mashal Shanti March' against the disqualification of party leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha. The march will start from Red Fort and end at Town Hall in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi.
Congress MPs will participate in the 'Loktantra Bachao Mashal Shanti March' starting from Red Fort at 7 pm,
Jagdeep Dhankhar trying to pacify the protesting opposition. Watch
Watch Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar trying to pacify the protesting opposition.
BJP OBC MPs demand apology from Rahul Gandhi for 'Modi surname' remark
BJP MPs, mostly from the Other Backward Classes, staged a protest march from Parliament to Vijay Chowk, demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks about the “Modi surname."
The BJP's OBC Morcha has also announced a campaign between April 6 and 14, reaching out to one crore households across one lakh villages to highlight the Modi government's historic decisions for the community's welfare and to condemn Gandhi's insulting comments about backward castes. The campaign will be launched by BJP President J P Nadda from Manesar in Haryana.
Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day
Opposition members continued their protest over the Adani issue, leading to the adjournment of Rajya Sabha proceedings for the day. When the Upper House assembled after an earlier adjournment, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar informed the House about the bills scheduled for discussion.
However, several Opposition MPs dressed in black disrupted the proceedings. Union Minister V K Singh corrected the answer to a starred question on behalf of his cabinet colleague Jyotiraditya Scindia regarding net losses incurred by the aviation industry.
Confident we'll see Rahul Gandhi back in Parliament: Khurshid
Salman Khurshid, a senior Congress leader, believes that the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha has provided a good opportunity for opposition unity. He believes that this could be the beginning of sustained cooperation between opposition parties and it is worth paying the price for it. Khurshid also expressed confidence that Rahul Gandhi would soon return to Parliament through the legal process.
He further stated that changes to the law on disqualification of legislators were inevitable due to unintended consequences of steps taken to clean up the political system.
Lok Sabha adjourned for day amid protests
Opposition protests over the Adani issue led to the adjournment of Lok Sabha proceedings for the day on Tuesday. As the House resumed at 2 pm after adjournment in the morning, opposition members demanded a joint parliamentary committee probe into the Adani issue, rushing to the Well of the House and raising slogans. Amid the uproar, papers and reports were laid on the table of the House.
Several opposition leaders were dressed in black as a mark of protest against the government, holding placards with "save democracy" written on them, and continued their protests and sloganeering. The Chair, Rama Devi, adjourned the proceedings for the day due to the continued disruptions. The Adani issue has been a contentious topic in Indian politics, with allegations of favoritism towards the Adani Group by the government.
Congress to hold ‘Mashal’ march tonight
The Congress on Tuesday announced a ‘Mashal’ march from Red Fort to Town Hall in old Delhi's Chandni Chowk in the evening. The march is against the disqualification of party leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha. Several Congress MPs will participate in the 'Loktantra Bachao Mashal Shanti March' starting from Red Fort at 7 pm, news agency ANI reported. Read here
Another problem arising for Rahul Gandhi? Here's what BJP said
Another problem is likely to emerge for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. According to a report by Live Hindustan, Livemint's sister publication, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has claimed that the certificate of Gandhi's car has expired. The saffron party leaders have demanded the Delhi police to issue a challan to Gandhi.
BJP Leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga shared a picture of Rahul Gandhi and wrote, "EX MP Rahul Gandhi driving a car DL9CQ5112 . Pollution Certificate of this car is expired on 27 Jan 2023. pls send Challan".
Here's how Rahul Gandhi replied on bungalow eviction
Rahul Gandhi's official reply to the bungalow eviction notice speaks about his “happy memories" at 12 Tughlak Lane.
Rahul Gandhi responds to Lok Sabha Secretariat on bungalow eviction
Rahul Gandhi has agreed to vacate the 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow. On Tuesday he responded to the letter of the Lok Sabha secretariat in which he wrote, "As an elected Member of Lok Sabha over last 4 terms, it is the mandate of the people to which I owe the happy memories of my time spent here. Without prejudice to my rights, I will, of course, abide by the details contained in your letter".
VD Savarkar's grandson threatens to file FIR against Rahul Gandhi
VD Savarkar's grandson Ranjit Savarkar has threatened to file FIR against Rahul Gandhi.
The grandson of late Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar has challenged the Congress leader to show documents that prove he had apologised to the British.
Gandhi's remark after his disqualification from the Lok Sabha has drawn fire from the BJP. Last week Gandhi said, "My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone".
Calling such comments childish, Savarkar's grandson Ranjit Savarkar on Monday said, "Rahul Gandhi is saying he won't apologise as he isn't Savarkar. I challenge him to show documents that prove Savarkar apologised".
"Using the names of patriots to promote politics is wrong and deplorable. Action must be taken," Ranjit Savarkar said.
PM Modi, Smriti Irani doing politics in name of OBC, says Congress leader
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury rebutted charges that Gandhi has hurt OBC's sentiments. He argued that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Smriti Irani are trying to act like "thekedar" of the OBC communities, but in reality are playing politics.
"...This has nothing to do with OBCs. Neither Modi nor Smriti Irani should become 'thekedar' of OBC. They want to do politics & nothing else in the name of OBC...Running away from Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi has deployed Smriti Irani today. If she says 'no', she'll lose her job...Come to us with real issues...If you (PM Modi) have courage, sit before media & tell them to ask you anything...." he said.
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