Ashish Ranjan
Rahul Gandhi clarifies Clarifies UK Remarks: Saturday, during a meeting of a parliamentary commission, Rahul Gandhi elaborated on his UK Remarks to the BJP’s claim that he insulted the nation by questioning the state of democracy abroad. According to sources, the lawmaker from Wayanad stated that he had only questioned India’s democracy and could not be labelled “anti-national” for doing so.
Mr. Gandhi added, before a Parliamentary Consultative Committee headed by the Ministry of External Affairs, that he had not asked any other nation to intervene.According to sources, the former leader of the Congress informed the assembled leaders that he believes this is an internal matter that will be resolved.
The purpose of the meeting, which Foreign Affairs minister S Jaishankar also attended, was to discuss India’s G20 presidency. Mr. Jaishankar gave a comprehensive presentation on the G20 presidency to the committee members at the beginning of the meeting.
Rahul Gandhi, who did not speak in the initial round, responded after a member of parliament raised the issue of political leaders seeking to gain favour by discussing Indian democracy abroad.
MPs from the BJP responded to Mr. Gandhi’s remarks by stating that this was not the appropriate forum to discuss the topic. A few other MPs present at the meeting supported the argument made by the BJP MP, while the majority of opposition MPs supported Mr. Gandhi’s right to elucidate or defend himself in light of the meeting’s oblique reference to his comments made during his London visit.
Some BJP MPs, without naming them, reportedly stated that the emergency was the greatest stain on India’s democracy and that some individuals are attempting to divert attention from India’s G20 presidency.
In the midst of the acrimonious debate, Mr. Jaishankar prevented Rahul Gandhi from responding to these statements and instructed all the leaders to make them in Parliament.He requested that Mr. Gandhi speak only on committee-related matters and not on political issues.
At least four Union Ministers have demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi inside and outside of parliament in response to his remarks made in London.Due to demonstrations and sloganeering in both chambers, the first week of the Budget session was cancelled.
While the BJP has demanded an apology from Mr. Gandhi, the Opposition is adamant that a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) investigate the allegations made against the Adani Group by US short-seller Hindenburg Research.
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Mr. Gandhi had stated at Cambridge University that the Indian democracy is under duress and opposition voices are being stifled. “The institutional framework necessary for democracy — Parliament, a free press, and the judiciary — is becoming constrained, as are mobilisation and movement. Therefore, the fundamental structure of Indian democracy is under attack,” he had stated.
