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I was disqualified as Modi is scared of my next speech in parliament: Rahul Gandhi

Indian National Congress supporters protest against party leader Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as parliamentarian in a criminal defamation case, in Mumbai, India, on Friday, March 24, 2023. (ANI Photo)

By: Shubham Ghosh

Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lashed out at prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (25), a day after he was disqualified as a member of the country’s parliament following conviction in a criminal defamation case by a court in the western state of Gujarat.

The 52-year-old leader, who faced a huge backlash from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over his recent remarks targeting the Modi government in the UK, said he was disqualified as the prime minister was scared of his next speech in the parliament.

He also used a reference to Veer Savarkar, formulator of India’s Hindutva philosophy, when asked why he didn’t apologise over the remarks made in London and during the defamation trial in which he was found guilty.

“I have been disqualified as the prime minister is scared of my next speech. I have seen fear in his eyes. That’s why they don’t want me to speak in the parliament,” Gandhi, who represented the constituency of Wayanad in the southern state of Kerala, was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Responding to the ruling party’s calls for apology, he said, “My name is not Savarkar. I am a Gandhi. I won’t apologise,” NDTV reported.

The Congress leader has in the past remarked that Savarkar wrote mercy petitions to the British and accepted pension out of fear. He also accused the late leader of helping the former colonial rulers. The BJP criticised him over his remark.

Gandhi also denied the BJP’s charges that he had sought the intervention of international forces in the domestic affairs of the country. He said he had asked the Speaker to let him respond on the floor of the House to the allegations over his London remarks.

“BJP leaders claimed that I am helping anti-India forces. I told the Speaker that it is my right to respond to these allegations. But he didn’t allow me,” Gandhi was quoted as saying by the news outlet. “I have only one step and that’s to fight for truth and to defend democratic nature of this country. Disqualify me for life, jail me for life, I will continue going.”

“Do I look worried? I’m excited,” he added.

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