'Sankalp Satyagraha': Congress Stages Nation-Wide Protest Over Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification As MP — IN PICS

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi called PM Narendra Modi a "coward". The statement came as the party launched a 'Sankalp Satyagraha' protest over disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as MP.

Visuals from protests of Congress leaders and workers across the nation

The Congress party on Sunday is holding a nationwide 'Sankalp Satyagraha' to register their anguish over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a Lok Sabha MP.

As part of the plan, party workers have gathered at Rajghat in Delhi for the Satyagraha. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders have also arrived at the Rajghat to participate in the protest.

Priyanka Gandhi during the protest said, "This country's Prime Minister is coward and arrogant.. sue me with whatever case you want to."

While recalling similar events from the past, the Congress leader said, "My father was insulted in the Parliament, my brother has been given names like Meer Jafar. Your ministers insult my mother in the Parliament. One of your CM said Rahul Gandhi does not even know who his father is, but no action is taken against these people." She added, "Such people are not disqualified from the Parliament, they are not sent to jail, and they are not stopped from contesting elections for years. They have insulted my family a lot of times, but we kept quiet."

She claimed that the man who had filed the defamation case against Rahul Gandhi had taken a stay on the case last year. "And when Rahul asked questions to which the Centre has no answer, that man went back to court and asked to begin the proceedings of the case."

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "This (Satyagraha) is not just about Congress party or Rahul Gandhi, this is about Indian democracy. Is it good for our democracy when the principal opposition leader is not allowed to raise his voice in Parliament where we have a PM who speaks to the world about India as the mother of democracy, is this good for our country?."

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot remarked, "Rahul Gandhi's motive is to save the democracy in the country. The way people have gathered here for the party's Satyagraha gives a message to the nation. A national debate has started in the country after Rahul Gandhi's press conference yesterday. People have appreciated what he said."

Congress leaders and workers across the nation have been staging protests, showing their dissent on the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as MP.

Rahul Gandhi on Saturday made a statement that created another stir in this row. Saying that he won’t apologise for his remarks on India’s democracy during his recent London visit, Rahul Gandhi said, “My name is not Savarkar, it is Gandhi and Gandhi never offers apology.”