JOIN USCongress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a pre-emptive strike against the Modi government claiming that he would not be allowed to speak in Parliament on the JNU row and the suicide of a Dalit student in University of Hyderabad.
“I will speak, but they will not let me speak because they are scared. They are scared of what I am going to say in Parliament, so they will not let me speak,” Rahul said in a brief remark to the media while exiting Parliament around noon.
However, when the Lok Sabha took up discussion on the JNU row, Vemula’s suicide and issues at other institutes of higher education, it was Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia who initiated the debate. Congress member K Suresh also participated in the discussion. Rahul walked in after Scindia had begun his speech and was seen thumping his desk encouraging the former minister.
Rahul was seen exiting the Lok Sabha as BJP member Anurag Thakur went hammer and tongs after the Congress leaders for joining the protests at the JNU. “Answer me, was Afzal Guru a terrorist? If not why did your government hang him,” Thakur said in the Lok Sabha only to find that Rahul had already left the House.
“He has left. Who will I pose my questions to now,” wondered Thakur.
Under attack from the BJP for supporting ‘anti-national’ elements, the Congress was seen doing a balancing act.