Uddhav's Sena Faction To Boycott Oppn Leaders' Dinner Meet At Kharge's Residence, TMC Also To Skip

Shiv Sena (UBT) condemned Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha, but Uddhav Thackeray warned Congress against demeaning Savarkar. The party will boycott opposition meet at Kharge's residence.

Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, wearing black over the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha | Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut with his party chief Uddhav Thackeray ( Image Source :PTI )

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, on Monday invited Parliamentarians of Opposition parties for a dinner at his residence. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) will boycott the dinner meet as it expressed displeasure over Rahul Gandhi's remarks against Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Savarkar, MP Sanjay Raut confirmed.

The floor leaders of opposition parties will meet at Kharge's residence at 7:30 pm tonight.

This comes as several opposition MPs took out a march from parliament to Vijay Chowk to protest against the government over the Adani issue and Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha.

Trinamool Congress, which has so far stayed away from opposition protests, joined the sit-in today. However, the TMC MPs may also skip the dinner at Kharge's residence, sources said.

The protesters, including Congress MP Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, gathered near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Parliament complex wearing black and raised slogans against the Modi government.

Earlier in the day, parliamentarians of various opposition parties, including the Congress, TMC, BRS, and SP, met at the Parliament complex to discuss a strategy to take forward the Adani issue as well as Rahul Gandhi's disqualification matter in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.

"You want to defame Rahul Gandhi that is why you transferred the case to Gujarat even as the comments were made in Kolar in Karnataka. Today is a black day for democracy," Kharge said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) condemned Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha, but its leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray warned Congress that demeaning Savarkar would create “cracks” in the opposition alliance.

"Veer Savarkar is our God, and any disrespect towards him will not be tolerated. We are prepared to fight, but insulting our Gods is not something we will tolerate," the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

He further said that there would be “cracks” in the opposition alliance if Gandhi continues to insult Savarkar. 

During a press conference on Saturday following his disqualification as Lok Sabha MP, Rahul Gandhi had said, “My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone."

The Congress leader was disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP after he was convicted in a 2019 defamation case over his ‘Modi surname’ remark made during the 2019 poll campaign in Karnataka. 

More On It: Demeaning Savarkar Would Create ‘Cracks’ In Opposition: Uddhav Thackeray Warns Rahul Gandhi