Rahul’s disqualification row forces House adjournment

Government scared of probe in Adani case, has no reply to Rahul Gandhi’s questions: Kharge; Congress not leting House function, says BJP’S Piyush Goyal; Congress workers protest outside the parliament, seek probe in Adani issue

India’s parliament was adjourned on Monday ater lawmakers held rowdy protests and threw paper at the speaker following the expulsion from the house of top opposition figure Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul lost his parliamentary seat on Friday ater being convicted in a case that critics say shows how the rule of law is under threat in the world’s largest democracy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The speaker called off proceedings less than a minute ater opposition MPS wearing black erupted in shouting, some of them throwing bits of paper at him.

“I want to run the House with dignity,” Speaker Om Birla said.

The session resumed several hours later only to be abandoned again ater about 10 minutes as opposition MPS chanted anti-modi slogans and waved “Democracy in danger” placards.

The Congress on Monday atacked Modi with leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge saying that he had no answers to questions posed by Rahul Gandhi on Adani issue.

Addressing the media ater 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.

“Why are we here in black clothes? We want to show that PM Modi is ending democracy in the country. He first finished autonomous bodies, then they put up their own governments everywhere by threatening those who had won polls. Then they used the ED and CBI to bend those who didn’t bow,” Kharge said.

The Congress president while referring to Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as the Lok Sabha MP, said, “Rahul Gandhi asked PM Modi why he takes Adani with him, why he allows him to meet other leaders and the business community when on tour, and how Adani reaches where the Prime Minister has an official visit.”

Kharge alleged that the Centre was fearful of answering these questions and instead chose to disqualify Rahul Gandhi to save itself.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, at a press conference on Monday, alleged that the Congress party is not leting Parliament run and is also misleading the people through its statements.

Goyal said that the “Grand Old Party” is not leting Parliament run and is trying to mislead the people. The Congress MPS are holding “Black Shirt” protests against Rahul Gandhi’s controversial disqualification from the Lok Sabha. He also questioned whether the Congress wanted to disrespect the law.

He stated, “Congress’ intentions are of insulting the OBC community, their mentality is against the OBC community. Rahul Gandhi has no right to consider himself above the law of the land.”

Goy al added that rahul gandhi didn’ tapologi se due to his arrogance. He said, “There have been 12 other cases of members who were disqualified ater the court’s decision. His own party leader was asking Rahul Gandhi to apologise but he didn’t do that due to his arrogance.”

He asked where do we see black clothes? The Congress is so demoralised that now it has to take the support of black magic.

Meanwhile, Congress-led opposition members on Monday protested outside Parliament by taking out a march wearing black clothes and shouting slogans, seeking probe in the Adani mater.

Former UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also participated in the protests outside Mahatma Gandhi’s statue.

Congress MPS were wearing black clothes to protest party leader Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from Lok Sabha.

Trinamool Congress, which had earlier indicated that it would not participate in the protests, also took part.

The opposition members took out a march from Mahatma Gandhi’s statue outside Parliament till Vijay Chowk, carrying placards and shouting slogans, seeking probe in the Adani mater.

The protests took place soon ater both the houses were adjourned amid noisy scenes by opposition members.

The lower house of parliament ruled Rahul ineligible to sit as an MP on Friday, a day ater he was sentenced to two years for defamation. He is appealing.

The conviction stemmed from a remark made during the 2019 election campaign when Rahul had asked why “all thieves have Modi as (their) common surname.”