Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were suspended soon after they met as the heated exchange between the BJP and Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks.
The Rahul Gandhi Speech
The parliamentary proceedings were suspended on the second day Tuesday following chaotic scenes in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over Rahul Gandhi’s “democracy under attack” remarks in the United Kingdom, with Bharatiya Janata Party ministers demanding an apology over the comments and the Congress countering it with its joint parliamentary committee demand on the Adani issue.
During his address to the British parliamentarians in London recently, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the “functioning microphones of Opposition leaders in Parliament are often silenced.” He made several other allegations including on PM Modi, an ‘attack on democracy’, and the China issue. In Cambridge, the Congress MP again alleged that the Opposition’s voice was being suppressed in Parliament.
After failing to win the mandate from people, Rahul Gandhi has started discrediting India’s democracy itself
Seeking external intervention, ready to get India colonised again
What a sore loser. What an utter disgrace.pic.twitter.com/fIlnUEpOoy
— Monica Verma (@TrulyMonica) March 5, 2023
Since then the Congress leader is drawing fire from the BJP over his remarks. Now, the BJP has demanded an apology from Mr. Gandhi and said MPs from all parties must denounce his statements.
An opposition leader's (Rahul Gandhi's) shameful remarks about India's Democracy, Press, Judiciary, Media, Election Commission and Army are the deliberate affront to the nation.
It must be remembered that it was Congress only which endangered democracy.
– Shri @PiyushGoyal pic.twitter.com/JVrhlhHk0C
— BJP (@BJP4India) March 13, 2023
“We cannot sit quiet and watch everything. A member of the House goes to a foreign country and talks against the democracy of India. I am shocked that some parties are also backing him. I appeal to all parties to criticize how a senior MP tried to defame Parliament on foreign land,” Piyush Goya said in Rajya Sabha amid protest by Congress members.
“Rahul Gandhi insulted India in London. I demand that his statements should be condemned by all members of this House and he should be asked to apologise before the House.”
Defence Minister Sri Rajnath Singh Ji in Lok Sabha pic.twitter.com/oAEkqLIn3d
— P C Mohan (@PCMohanMP) March 13, 2023
Adding fuel to the fire Union Minister Anurag Thakur brought up the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. “He is saying minorities are under attack. What happened in 1984 when thousands of Sikhs were killed? Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have protected those responsible,” he alleged.
VIDEO | "We have proposed to the Lok Sabha Speaker for a discussion on Rahul Gandhi for hurting India's dignity," says BJP MP @nishikant_dubey. pic.twitter.com/vRmrgcWCdv
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 13, 2023
The counter from Congress
The Congress, nevertheless, has trashed the ruling party’s allegations and said “those crushing democracy are talking of saving it”.
Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha, Manickam Tagore, has said there is no question of an apology. “The question does not arise. He said nothing wrong. Those from RSS apologize, but those from Congress don’t. He has rightly said that the voice of people is being suppressed,” he said.
Congress President and other Opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha took out a march to Vijay Chowk to protest against the silence of the Modi government in the Adani scam case. pic.twitter.com/oBTLFqHNRr
— Shweta@soni (@shweta31soni) March 13, 2023
Also, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury lashed out at the Centre as the BJP increased pressure in Parliament on Rahul Gandhi to apologize for allegedly insulting Indian Parliament and democracy during his speech in London. Stating that the government “does not want to run the Parliament”, Chowdhury questioned, “has it ever been witnessed that all the members of a party in power create a ruckus to halt the Parliament?”
Day 2 of Budget Session | Lok Sabha adjourned amid the uproar.
Opposition party leaders hold placards & shout slogans inside the premises- WATCH.#LokSabha #BudgetSession pic.twitter.com/rKR01NQ1qd
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) March 14, 2023
“Why should Rahul Gandhi apologize? Instead, they (Centre) should apologize for the Adani issue,” the MP told the news agency ANI.
