With the ruling party continuously mounting pressure, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to allow him to speak in the Lok Sabha over his democracy remarks made in London. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said time has been sought for Rahul Gandhi to speak in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday and he will make his statement if allowed. He has not made any public statement about his London remarks yet.
Kharge also slammed the Modi government over the Delhi Police team reaching Rahul Gandhi’s residence on Sunday to inquire about his “women are still being sexually assaulted” statement made during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. “This is an attempt to target and harass. They want to weaken us by intimidation, but we will not get scared or be weakened,” Kharge said.
Party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi too attacked the Centre over the Delhi Police’s notice to her brother Rahul Gandhi and said the people of the country are watching all the exploits of “the corrupt BJP government” and will reply when the time comes.
BJP has launched a major offensive against him and has been stalling both houses of Parliament while demanding an apology from him. The ruling party has accused the Congress leader of seeking foreign intervention as “democracy in India is under threat”. The former Congress chief has however defended his statement at a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for External Affairs and has claimed that he has never insulted the country.
Rahul Gandhi had met Birla last week after his return from the UK and on the same day told the Press that he requested the Lok Sabha presiding officer to allow him to speak in the House. Congress leaders said that Rahul Gandhi wants to speak in the Lok Sabha to clarify his remarks made in London, over which the BJP is demanding an apology from him after accusing him of insulting the country and its institutions on foreign soil.
In a tweet message Priyanka Gandhi said, “Notice is being given to Mr Rahul Gandhi as to why did you raise the voice of women, dalits, tribals, poor, farmers and youth who were suffering from atrocities?” “PM’s friend Gautam Adani accused of having business relations with 38 shell companies abroad, no notice. Infiltration of fake company in defense sector through Adani, no notice. The government itself is accused of changing the rules to benefit Adani, not even discussed in the Parliament,” the Congress general secretary said.