Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani on Monday called the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as Lok Sabha MP an 'operation of the law,' demonstrating that no person was above law in the country. She also charged that Gandhi believed that he was above law after his disqualification from the Lok Sabha, following his conviction in a defamation case. "It was made to appear as though it was the central government which disqualified Rahul Gandhi as an MP. It is a directive of the court,” Irani pointed out during a Yuva Samvada event organised by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya.
Congress legislators in Goa on Monday wore black clothes while attending the Assembly Session as a mark of protest against the disqualification of former INC president Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha.
All three Congress MLAs, including Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Quepem MLA Altone D'Costa came to the Goa Legislative Assembly in black clothes.
"We strongly condemn the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi who spoke the truth and exposed the crony capitalist agenda of the BJP government. As a mark of protest, all three of us are wearing black clothes today," Yuri Alemao told reporters.
Disqualified Lok Sabha member Rahul Gandhi was on Monday asked to vacate the government bungalow allotted to him by April 22, official sources said on Monday.
The Housing Committee of the Lok Sabha took the decision following which the secretariat of the House served the notice on the former Congress president, a Z-plus protectee who has been living in the 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow since 2005.
Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee cadres observed a day-long fast at Anna Thidal in the neighbouring Odiansalai here on Monday protesting against disqualification of party leader Rahul Gandhi as member of Parliament. PPCC leader A V Subramanian, former Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, office bearers of the PPCC, the two legislators of the party M Vaithianathan and Ramesh Parambath were among those who participated.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's hasty disqualification from the Lok Sabha is a conspiracy by the Centre, senior party leader Anand Sharma said on Monday.
The former Union minister also said Gandhi has every right to speak in Parliament. Gandhi was on March 23 sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "why all thieves have Modi surname" remark.
A day later, he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction in the case.
"This shows BJP's hatred towards Rahul Gandhi. For a period of 30 days after the notice is served, one can rightfully continue to stay in the same house. After the 30-day time period, one can continue to stay in the same house by paying rent at market rates. Rahul Gandhi comes under 'Z' plus security category,"Congress MP Pramod Tiwari told ANI.
JUST IN | After being disqualified from the Lok Sabha, the Lok Sabha Housing Committee has given notice to Rahul Gandhi to vacate the government-allotted bungalow, sources told ANI.
The BJP on Monday slammed the Congress, asking it to "do serious introspection" and ponder over what is acceptable in a political and legal system.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's comments came amidst escalated agitation by the Congress over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha and the Adani issue. "They really deserve to do some serious introspection," Puri said when asked about the Congress observing 'black day' on Monday, a day after their party's 'Satyagraha' protests at the Rajghat.
In a rare display of unity, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday attended a Congress-led opposition strategy meeting and was also part of the protest against the Adani issue and Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as Lok Sabha MP.
But instead of TMC's floor leaders, its two MPs were in attendance at both the events.
In a meeting called by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday evening of floor leaders of like minded parties, TMC will send the same two MPs -- Prasoon Banerjee and Jawahar Sirkar, party leaders said.
Scores of Indian Youth Congress activists staged a protest at the Jantar Mantar here on Monday against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha and were detained when they tried to march towards Parliament.
Indian Youth Congress (IYC) activists from across the country gathered at the Jantar Mantar to show solidarity with Gandhi and criticised the central government for "silencing" voices of the democratic opposition. Carrying IYC flags and "Satyameva Jayate" placards, the protesters demanded justice for Gandhi.
Credit: Reuters Photo
The TN Congress MLAs on Monday staged a walkout from the state Legislative Assembly after Speaker M. Appavu expunged some remarks of party's floor leader K. Selvaperunthagai. The CLP leader had raised the issue of the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Carrying IYC flags and "Satyameva Jayate" placards, the protesters demanded justice for Gandhi.
"The Centre has shown that no one can speak or question the Modi government. Rahul ji raised questions about Adani... so they attempted to silence him by disqualifying him," said Vikram, one of the protesters.
"Rahul Gandhi is fearless and will continue to question the government over their wrong deeds," he added.
The protesters said they would also 'gherao' parliament to as part of their protest.
While addressing a rally on Sunday to protest the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a member of Lok Sabha, Priyanka Gandhi had criticised the BJP for labelling the Congress as a "dynastic" party.
"They (the BJP) accuse us of dynasticism…then what was Lord Ram? He was exiled but still fulfilled his responsibilities towards his family and motherland. Was this dynasticism? Did the Pandavas indulge in dynasticism," she had asked.
Addressing the media after a protest march outside Parliament, Kharge asked, "Why are you scared of a JPC on Adani? You have a two-thirds majority in Parliament, then why are you scared? This means that something is awry?"
On the party members wearing black, Kharge said it was a black day for democracy.
Meanwhile here's what Kharge said:
I thank everyone who supported this. That is why, I thanked everyone yesterday and I thank them today as well: Kharge
Thakur, in a series of tweets, reminded Rahul that he could never become "Veer Savarkar even in his wildest dreams" because Veer Savarkar's name stands for grit, determination, staunch patriotism for Bharat, selflessness and commitment to the motherland.
In the wake of Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a defamation case, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Sunday asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not facing a similar action for constantly criticising Sonia Gandhi and late PM Rajiv Gandhi.
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