'Paying The Price For Speaking Truth': Rahul Gandhi Vacates Govt-Allotted Bungalow In Delhi — WATCH

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi vacated his official bungalow today and said that he was paying the price for speaking the truth about the government, a view also expressed by Priyanka Gandhi.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi handed over the 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow to the Lok Sabha secretariat, in the presence of his mother Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. ( Image Source :PTI )

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi vacated his official bungalow on Saturday, nearly a month after he was disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP after a conviction in the 2019 Modi surname defamation case. He alleged that he was paying the price for speaking the truth. When asked if he wanted to retain the bungalow, the former Wayanad MP said he did not wish to do so as Indians gave him that house for 19 years. His sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also shared similar views.  

Previously, Rahul Gandhi was asked to vacate the government bungalow allotted to him by April 22 following his disqualification as Wayanad MP after a Surat court convicted him in the 2019 ‘Modi surname’ remark case. 

"People of India gave this house to me for 19 years and I want to thank them. This is the price for speaking the truth and I am ready to pay that price," Rahul said. He also mentioned that he will stay at his mother Sonia Gandhi's residence at 10, Janpath, for some time and will continue to raise issues.

मैंने सच बोलने की कीमत चुकाई है। मैं सच के लिए हर कीमत चुकाने को तैयार हूं।

यह घर मुझे ह‍िंदुस्‍तान की जनता ने द‍िया था। मैं उनका धन्‍यवाद करता हूं।

- @RahulGandhi जी pic.twitter.com/tRnqbLItzU

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 22, 2023

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra shared similar sentiments as she said: "Whatever my brother is saying is true. He spoke the truth about the government for which he is facing all this. But he is very brave, he is not afraid. He will continue his struggle."

राहुल जी ने सरकार के बारे में सच बोला इसलिए उनके साथ ये सब हो रहा है।

लेकिन राहुल जी बहुत हिम्मत वाले हैं, वो डरते नहीं हैं, डरेंगे नहीं और संघर्ष जारी रखेंगे।

: @priyankagandhi जी pic.twitter.com/AQoSJN3ZHX

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 22, 2023

The former Congress president handed over his official bungalow, at Tughlak Lane, in the presence of his mother Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

हिंदुस्तान की जनता का धन्यवाद...

मैं आपके लिए हर कीमत चुकाने को तैयार हूं। pic.twitter.com/Nu6fqkyG3P

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 22, 2023

"They can give this house to anyone now. The way the Modi government and Amit Shah are targeting Rahul Gandhi is completely a political vendetta," AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal remarked, as quoted by news agency ANI.

As per news agency PTI, the former Congress President had on April 14 shifted his office and some personal belongings from the bungalow to his mother Sonia Gandhi's official residence.  

Gandhi moved out his remaining articles on Friday evening from the bungalow, PTI reported citing sources. A truck was seen moving out of the building with his belongings today. 

Rahul Gandhi has been living in the bungalow for nearly two decades.

A Surat court on March 23 convicted Gandhi in a criminal defamation case sentencing him to two-year, leading to his disqualification. He had challenged the magisterial court order in the sessions court in Surat which rejected his appeal to set aside the conviction. 

A day after his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat sent Gandhi a notice to vacate the premises by April 22. 

Modi Surname Remark Case: Congress To Approach Higher Courts To Stay Conviction

The Congress on Thursday said it will continue to avail all options still available under the law after a Gujarat court rejected Rahul Gandhi's application for a stay on his conviction in the 2019 criminal defamation case. Congress leader Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the verdict is "unfortunate". "A wrong verdict has been affirmed, we will use our alternatives," he said addressing a presser, adding that the party will approach a higher court at the earliest.

The lawyer-politician called the Surat verdict verdict "suspicious". "We are confident that superior courts namely the high court and Supreme Court will set right the legal errors found with these two judgments. We are clear that the judgment is devoid of valid legal sustainable reasoning," Singhvi remarked.

The party said it will challenge the sessions court order in the Gujarat High Court next week.