'Dariye Math': Rahul Gandhi Tells BJP As He Begins No-Trust Speech With 'Adani' Dig, Says Will Speak On Manipur

No-Confidence Motion: Rahul Gandhi Began his speech in Lok Sabha saying that he won't speak against the Adani Group. "So, you don't have to be scared," he took a dig at the BJP.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was reinstated as Lok Sabha MP last week, began his speech in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, saying that the government doesn't have to fear him as he wouldn't speak against the Gautam Adani group. Gandhi said: "I won't speak against Adani. So, you don't have to be scared. Dariye mat. Just Relax." 

He also said that he won't be too hard on the government in his speech. "Ek do gole zaroor marunga, magar itna nahi. [Will fire one or two shots. But not too many].  He said he will speak on the Manipur issue. He then went on to detail his experience during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and how he connected with the people during the rally in the various states.

Gandhi returned to the Lok Sabha on Monday after his membership was restored following the Supreme Court staying his conviction in a defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark.

The former Congress chief went on a two-day visit to strife-torn Manipur last month and visited relief camps at Moirang in Bishnupur district. He also held an interaction with representatives of student bodies, women, and intellectuals in Imphal. During his visit, Gandhi's convoy was blocked from travelling to the violence-hit Churachandpur district amid security concerns. He later took a helicopter to the region.

After concluding his visit, Gandhi, in a tweet, said, "Manipur needs peace to heal. During my 2-day visit to the State, it broke my heart to see our brothers and sisters in pain."

For the no-trust discussion, 6 hours and 41 minutes have been allotted to the BJP, 1 hour 9 minutes to Congress and 30 minutes each to DMK and Trinamool Congress. YSR Congress Party has been given 29 minutes for the debate, Shiv Sena 24 minutes and JD(U) 21 minutes.

While the Modi government faces no threat from the no-confidence motion as the NDA has a comfortable majority in Lok Sabha, with BJP alone having over 300 MPs, the Opposition has said the objective was to push PM Modi to reply in Parliament on the Manipur issue.

(Note: This report has been updated as parts of Rahul Gandhi’s Wednesday speech in Parliament were expunged.)