Rahul Gandhi discredited India, want apology: Rajnath, Goyal lead Govt charge

The Congress countered the government attack and there were uproarious scenes in both Houses, eventually leading to adjournment of proceedings for the day.

The first signal that the government was preparing to turn the tables on the Opposition came Sunday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at Rahul Gandhi, saying “some people are putting Indian democracy on trial and insulting the citizens of the country”.

On Monday morning, floor leaders of 16 Opposition parties met in the chamber of the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and decided to press the demand for a JPC probe into the Adani Group affairs and seek discussions on the alleged targeting of Opposition leaders by Central agencies, and on issues such as price rise, Centre-State relations and unemployment. The Trinamool Congress did not attend the meeting but the AAP and the BRS were present.

But minutes after the proceedings began, Rajnath Singh and Piyush Goyal, in their respective Houses, referred to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on foreign soil and demanded an apology from him, drawing angry protests from Congress benches.

In Lok Sabha, Singh said, “Rahul Gandhi, who is a member of Lok Sabha, had gone to London and tried to discredit India and said the democratic system in India is completely crumbling. He also said that foreign powers should save India’s democracy. He tried to deeply hurt India’s honour and prestige… This is condemnable. The House should condemn and he should apologise to the Lok Sabha.”

In Rajya Sabha, Goyal said a senior Opposition leader had attacked India’s democracy in a shameless manner in a foreign country. Without taking Rahul’s name, Goyal alleged that the Opposition leader had insulted the Indian Army, Indian Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker, Election Commission, judiciary and media on foreign soil.

“The entire country saw how an Opposition leader hurt the sentiments of Indians on foreign soil. He should apologise to the country and every Indian. He should apologise to the Army. He should come to the House and apologise to the Army, media and judiciary for his remarks on democracy,” Goyal said amid protests from Congress benches.

Outside the House, Union Ministers Goyal, Pralhad Joshi and Anurag Thakur made a statement condemning Rahul Gandhi’s remarks. Some BJP MPs staged a protest, seeking an apology from the Congress leader.

In Lok Sabha, as Singh criticised the Congress leader, Opposition MPs, barring those from the TMC, came to the Well of the House, raising slogans against the government. BJP MPs also stood up and raised slogans against Rahul Gandhi.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, “India is the mother of democracy… Rahul Gandhi, who is a member of this House, cast aspersions on the Chair saying his mic was turned off. He was allowed to make his entire speech, but still he blamed the Chair.”

“When the fundamental rights of citizens were suspended during the Emergency, where was democracy? When an ordinance promulgated by a government, in which Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister and leaders like Sharad Pawar were ministers, was torn publicly, calling it ‘nonsense’… where was democracy?” he asked.

Joshi said he was condemning Gandhi for “seeking intervention of foreign powers like the US and Europe”. “If he has some shame, he should come to this House and tender an apology. This is our demand,” he said.

Speaker Om Birla asked both sides to remain seated so that Question Hour could be taken up. He said democracy in India was not just strong but getting stronger. “Let the House function properly. Everyone will get an opportunity. Slogan-shouting is not good. People of this country have great faith in our democracy. Even foreign MPs and Chairs, who often visit us, accept this,” he said.

With neither side relenting, Birla adjourned proceedings until 2 pm. When the House re-convened, BJP MPs raised slogans, seeking an apology from Gandhi. Opposition members hit back, also raising slogans. This led to proceedings being adjourned for the day.

In Rajya Sabha, Goyal, without naming Gandhi, said, “He should understand what democracy is. Democracy had come under threat when fundamental rights were suspended during the Emergency. Who did it? His party did it. Democracy comes under threat when the voice of the media is muzzled, freedom of speech is stifled… his party did it.”

Leader of the Opposition Kharge said he condemned the remarks against the Congress and Gandhi who was not a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Referring to Goyal’s remarks on democracy, Kharge said, “The world knows what is happening in India.” He charged that democracy in India was not functioning as per the Constitution and democratic ethos. His remarks led to an uproar from the treasury benches, resulting in adjournment of the House until 2 pm.

When the House met again, Kharge cited two previous rulings to say that no member of the House can level charges on a member of the other House. Taking exception to Goyal’s remarks, he asked the Chairman to expunge them from the records. Goyal replied that he had not named the Congress leader. With both sides continuing to protest, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said he would give his ruling Tuesday and adjourned proceedings for the day. — With Damini Nath