'Will Not Be Intimidated Or Silenced': Congress On Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification From Lok Sabha

Rahul Gandhi Disqualified: Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh said the party would fight the battle legally and politically.

The Congress said it would not be "intimidated or silenced" after Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a 2019 defamation case. Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh said the party would fight the battle legally and politically.

"We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti," Ramesh tweeted.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the party would continue to fight. "The strategy from here will be discussed within the party," PTI quoted Kharge as saying.

"They (BJP) tried all ways to disqualify him. They don't want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. We will continue to demand JPC (probe into Adani issue). If needed, we'll go to jail to save democracy," ANI quoted Kharge as saying.

Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as Wayanad MP is effective from March 23, the day of his conviction, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said on Friday in a notification.

A court in Surat sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case on Thursday for his alleged remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

Congress MP KC Venugopal called the development "a clear case of anti-democratic, dictatorship attitude" of the BJP government. "The day Rahul Gandhi raised questions against Adani, PM, this type of conspiracy was started to silence Rahul Gandhi," he said.

In Maharashtra, state Congress chief Nana Patole said ending Rahul Gandhi's membership was a step towards ending democracy in India.

"We condemn the way in which Rahul Gandhi is disqualified...On the basis of Surat court verdict, under Modi govt's pressure, Lok Sabha disqualified him...If action is taken on calling someone 'chor', we will call them 'daaku'," ANI quoted Patole as saying.

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury called the move "politics of vendetta" being spearheaded by the Modi government against Rahul Gandhi. 

"It is a sheer case of retributive politics because Rahul Gandhi has been gaining popularity, especially in the wake of Bharat Jodo Yatra which was not digested by Modi govt. This is a very cruel demonstration of an autocratic govt," the Bengal Congress leader said.

Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar condemned the BJP's anti-democratic attitude. "You can remove Rahul Gandhi from the seat of Parliament but it is impossible to remove him from the seat given in the heart of crores of Indians," Shivakumar further said.