If Indian democracy was functioning, I'd be allowed to speak in Parliament today: Rahul on BJP attacks

Tribune News Service

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 16

Amid a massive government offensive against him with respect to his remarks in the UK on the state of Indian democracy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the entire issue was a distraction from uncomfortable questions he had posed on the “relation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industralist Gautam Adani”.

“Four ministers have levelled accusations against me. I went to the Lok Sabha Speaker today and told him I have the right to reply in the Lok Sabha. I’m hopeful but not sure if I would be allowed to speak tomorrow…What’s happening is a test of Indian democracy. Will Rahul Gandhi, the MP, get the same space as four ministers got or will he be asked to shut up? If Indian democracy was functioning I would have been able to say my piece in Lok Sabha today, but the House was adjourned within minutes,” Gandhi said today hours after the government fielded Law Minister Kiren Rijiju to attack the Congress leader a day after Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani attacked him.

Gandhi said he would wait for his chance to speak in Parliament tomorrow and would first like to exercise his right as an MP to respond.

Gandhi said the entire issue of BJP seeking an apology from him about his London remarks “was a distraction from the questions he recently raised in Parliament about the PM and Adani relationship, the space Adani was granted in India-Israel ties, the meeting between PM, SBI chairman and Adani in Australia, Adani involvement in a Sri Lankan project and bending of rules to give Adani several airport contracts in India.”

“This story (of BJP attacking Gandhi) began the day I asked questions in Parliament. Those questions remain on the table,” Gandhi said.

He returned from UK yesterday and attended second leg of the budget session for the first time today since commencement on March 13.

Ruling BJP has been seeking Gandhi’s apology with all four days of the post recess session washed out over the issue.

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