'Congress So Demoralised That It Is Taking Support Of Black Magic': BJP On Party's 'Black Protest' Over Rahul Row

Days after Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as Lok Sabha MP, which they dubbed a "black day for democracy," opposition MPs entered both Houses in black attire.

BJP leader Piyush Goyal on Monday slammed the Congress party's 'black protest' and said that Congress demoralised that now it has to take the support of black magic. "Where do we see black clothes? Congress is so demoralised that now it has to take the support of black magic," said Union Minister.

"There have been 12 other cases as well of the members who were disqualified after the court's decision. His own party leader was asking Rahul Gandhi to apologise but he didn't do that due to his arrogance," the minister said.

On March 23, a court in Surat found Gandhi guilty of criminal defamation for his remark about the "Modi surname" and sentenced him to two years in prison. This resulted in Gandhi losing his eligibility to serve as an MP.

"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 country," he added.

Dressed In Black, Opposition MPs Stage Protest

On Monday, a number of opposition MPs marched from parliament to Vijay Chowk in black to express their displeasure with the government and Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha.

Sonia Gandhi, a Congress MP, and Mallikarjun Kharge, the party chief, were among the protesters who gathered near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex and chanted anti-government slogans.

The MPs moved toward Vijay Chowk, where they held a sit-in, carrying large banners with the words "Satyamev Jayate" and "save democracy" written on them.

"How has Adani's wealth multiplied so much in the last few years. When you are going to foreign countries how many times have you taken the industrialist with you. The PM has not been able to give answers to questions raised against Adani," Kharge told reporters at Vijay Chowk.

"We want a JPC on the Adani issue. Why is the government not agreeing to this? Why are you scared of a JPC probe... it means 'dal mein kuchh kala hai' (something is wrong)," he said.

The opposition has requested that a joint parliamentary committee investigate the Adani Group's claims of corporate fraud and stock price manipulation.

Kharge likewise raised the issue of Rahul Gandhi's preclusion as MP after a Surat court indicted and condemned him in a 2019 criminal maligning case.

"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.

Kharge claimed that the prime minister is "finishing" democracy because opposition lawmakers were wearing black attire.

On Monday, the Trinamool Congress, which had previously avoided opposition demonstrations, joined the sit-in.

MPs from Congress, TMC, BRS, and SP previously met at the Parliament complex to discuss a strategy for moving forward with the Adani case and Rahul Gandhi's disqualification in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.