Congress, BJP Lock Horns As Grand Old Party Holds 'Sankalp Satyagraha' In Support Of Rahul Gandhi — Key Points

Priyanka Gandhi lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government and said the action taken against her brother was a ploy to evade questions on industrialist Gautam Adani.

New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday observed a day-long nationwide ‘Sankalp Satyagraha’ in support of party leader Rahul Gandhi following his conviction in a defamation case and disqualification from the Lok Sabha.

The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) locked horns as several leaders of the grand old party took part in the day-long movement across the country.

Here are the key developments:

• Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, senior leaders KC Venugopal, P Chidambaram and Salman Khurshid were among the Congress’ top brass taking part in the satyagraha at Raj Ghat in New Delhi. Jairam Ramesh, Mukul Wasnik, Pawan Kumar Bansal, Saktisinh Gohil, Jothimani, Pratibha Singh and Manish Chatrath were also present at the protest site.

• Addressing the 'Sankalp Satyagraha', Priyanka Gandhi lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government and said the action taken against her brother was a ploy to evade questions on industrialist Gautam Adani. “When arrogant dictators are unable to answer the questions raised, they try to suppress those who ask the questions. This entire Cabinet, government and MPs are trying to save one person and are not holding an inquiry. Who is this Adani in whose support everyone comes the moment his name crops up,” she said.

• Noting that lakhs of people joined Rahul Gandhi on his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Priyanka Gandhi said, "When a person who walks from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to unite the country, can this person insult the country?” "This country's prime minister is a coward. Take me to jail but the truth is this country's prime minister is a coward. He is hiding behind his power and (he) is arrogant. But this country's tradition is that people reply to an arrogant king. This country recognises an arrogant king. This country knows the truth," she added.


• The Congress leaders ended the day-long Satyagraha after paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Delhi's Raj Ghat.


• All opposition parties in Assam, except the AIUDF, united at the 'Sankalp Satyagraha' in Guwahati. The AIUDF held a separate press conference where it condemned the action against Rahul Gandhi and termed it an "attack on democracy and the Constitution".


• Slamming the Congress over its nationwide movement, BJP said the grand old party was agitating against the country's Constitution and the court verdict against Rahul Gandhi to justify his remarks against the entire backward community of the country. “The Congress agitation is a brazen display of its arrogance and indiscipline,” BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said.


• Taking a dig at the Congress, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said those who weaken democracy cannot observe “Satyagraha”. “Those who divide the country on the lines of language and regionalism cannot practice Satyagraha. Nobody has the right to engage in Satyagraha who does not have compassion for people,” CM Adityanath said in a statement.


• Taking a jibe at the Congress, BJP president JP Nadda said ‘actual satyagraha’ was conducted by Mahatma Gandhi for ‘India’s identity'. “You (Rahul Gandhi) give casteist slurs to the backward communities by calling them thieves. Court has repeatedly asked you to apologise and your pride is so high that you deny apologising,” Nadda said.

• The Congress in Ahmedabad was forced to call off its ‘Sankalp Satyagraha’ at the last minute due to lack of police permission. According to Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) spokesperson Manish Doshi, the party was given verbal permission to hold the protest at Lal Darwaza. But as sloganeering started 10 minutes before the protest, the police declined the written permission submitted to them.