The Congress has accused the BJP of using “dirty tricks” to disqualify Rahul Gandhi from Parliament and announced that its cadres and leaders will participate in a 'maun satyagraha' near Mahatma Gandhi statues in every State capital on July 12 as a mark of protest.
In a statement, Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal highlighted Gandhi's role as the strongest and most vocal opponent of the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government.
Venugopal referred to Gandhi's recent Bharat Jodo Yatra and his historic address in the Lok Sabha, where he exposed the alleged connection between Prime Minister Modi and the Adani Group.
According to Venugopal, the BJP deployed “dirty tricks” to disqualify Gandhi from Parliament as a response to his revelations. The Congress had announced its decision to move the Supreme Court after the Gujarat High Court refused to stay Gandhi's conviction in a 2019 defamation case.
The party accused the government of using various techniques to suppress Gandhi's voice, claiming that it is intimidated by his truth-speaking. Despite these challenges, Gandhi remains resolute in his determination to confront ruling regime and address concerns of India's marginalized communities, farmers, laborers, and youth, Venugopal stated. He emphasized that Gandhi continues to be voice of people and a trusted leader even outside of Parliament. Venugopal claimed that both the Congress party and the nation as a whole are deeply disturbed by what they perceive as an unjust and vindictive disqualification of Gandhi.
He called on all Indians, regardless of political affiliation, to stand together against suppression of democracy and in support of justice and liberty.
To demonstrate their protest, the state units of the Congress party will organize a 'maun satyagraha' near Mahatma Gandhi statues in every state capital on July 12, 2023, from 10 am to 5 pm.
Venugopal expressed confidence that truth and party's commitment to welfare of every Indian will prevail, despite any tactics deployed by the BJP-RSS. He asserted that Indian people will not allow fascist forces to persist for long.