Ashish Ranjan
In response to the BJP’s demands for an apology from Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in London, the Congress leader briefed the media in Delhi today, stating that he is a member of Parliament and is hopeful that he will be permitted to present his case in the House of Representatives.
“I went to the House of Representatives with the intention of sharing what I have said or how I feel. Four ministers have made allegations against me in the House of Representatives. It is my prerogative to be permitted to speak on the House floor. I asked today’s Speaker to… I went to his office and requested to speak with him, stating that I was eager to do so. I informed him that members of the BJP had made accusations against me, and that as a member of parliament, I had the right to communicate. He was noncommittal and grinned in his own way. Tomorrow, however, I am optimistic that I will be permitted to speak “Gandhi said.
“As the four ministers have made the allegations in parliament, it is my democratic right to have the opportunitya€ If India was a functioning democracy, I would be able to voice my opinion in parliament. This is an examination of Indian democracy. After four BJP leaders made allegations against a member of parliament, will that member of parliament be given the same opportunity to speak as those four ministers, or will he be told to be quiet? “He queried.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi attended Parliament and requested time to speak from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. “Inside the chamber, BJP leaders took his name. “He told the speaker that he needed to defend himself and that he should be granted time to do so,” said Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the leader of the opposition party.
Gandhi, addressing the allegations against him, stated: “The story began the day I gave my speech in Parliament about Mr. Adani and asked the prime minister fundamental questions about his relationship with the businessman, about how Mr. Adani had been given virtually the entire India-Israel defence relationship, how he had been given the Mumbai airport and other airports, how rules were changed to allow him to be given these airports, and what transpired in Australia between the prime minister, Mr. Adani, and the State Bank of Australia. Why is the Indian prime minister seated with the SBI chairman, and why did SBI pledge nearly $1 billion to Mr. Adani following their discussion? What occurred in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka?”
“These are relevant concerns. This is why four or five ministers and the prime minister gave speeches to divert attention from the fundamental question: what is the relationship between the Indian prime minister and Mr. Adani, and more importantly, whose money is in the shell companies, and what is his relationship with Mr. Adani?” Rahul gandhi inquired.
“I’d like to discuss the specifics with you. Unfortunately, I am a member of the House of Representatives, and I am hopeful that I will be permitted to speak in the House. Therefore, I would like to make my statement on the floor of the House before discussing it with you “he said.
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The remarks made by Rahul Gandhi against India in the United Kingdom have sparked a tremendous uproar between the government and the opposition in Parliament. The BJP has demanded that Rahul Gandhi apologise for denigrating India abroad in Parliament. On the other hand, the Congress and other opposition parties demand an investigation into the Adani-Hindenburg issue by a joint parliamentary committee.
