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Journalism of Courage
AS RAHUL Gandhi came to Parliament Thursday for the first time since the BJP launched an attack over remarks made by him during interactions in London, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju stepped up the BJP offensive, accusing the Congress leader of “speaking in the language of anti-India forces”.
Addressing the media at Parliament House, Rijiju justified the BJP’s protest in both the Houses demanding an apology from Rahul; Parliament could not function for the fourth consecutive day Thursday amidst the protests, including by the Opposition over the Adani matter.
“Anything related to the nation is a matter of concern for all. We do not care what’s happening to the Congress or its leadership. But if he insults the nation, we cannot keep quiet,” Rijijju said.
“The language of these anti-India forces is the same. They speak on the same lines. Similar language is being used by Rahul Gandhi also. It’s the language of all those who work against India,” the Law Minister said.
Hinting that the stalemate in Parliament will continue, Rijijju said: “We cannot keep quiet when Parliament is being attacked. The nation will not forgive us if we do. It’s not our fault that the country doesn’t support Rahul. But that doesn’t mean he can insult the country or show it in a poor light.”
Rahul met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Thursday, urging him to allow him to speak in the House. “If they allow me to speak in Parliament, then I will say what I think,” he told reporters while leaving Parliament, adding that it will not be to the BJP’s liking when he speaks inside Parliament.
Asked what would be the BJP’s move if Rahul refuses to apologise, Rijijju said: “All the available instruments, rules and conventions will be used. Future steps will be discussed.”
On Thursday, there was pandemonium in both Houses as BJP MPs demanded an apology from Rahul for saying democracy was under threat in India, and Congress-led Opposition MPs sought a joint parliamentary committee probe on the Hindenburg report on the Adani Group. The MPs of the Trinamool Congress, which has stayed away from Congress-led protests, appeared in Parliament with their mouths covered with black cloth, as a sign of “not being allowed to speak inside the House”.
Rijiju said it was not just the BJP but everyone in the country was concerned about what Rahul had said. “He did a Yatra and met people of the same feather. He kept talking but complained that there is no freedom in India to talk. The person who speaks most in this country says there is no freedom. That’s the irony,” the minister said.
He added that consequent to Rahul’s remarks, he had been getting calls from people abroad, requesting him to “allow” the Congress leader to speak in the House.
Attacking the Congress for defending Rahul, saying he had said nothing wrong for which he needed to apologise, Rijiju said: “If the Congress feels what he said is nothing serious, then they do not deserve to represent a certain section of the people in Parliament. They should be forever indebted to the people of India who gave them maximum opportunity to serve the country.”
“Some people do not bother about the prestige of the country,” he added. “Will the Congress party take a broom to London and clean it up?”
Pointing out that he belonged to a minority community too, and was an MP from Arunachal Pradesh, Rijiju also contested claims that minorities faced problems in the country, reiterating that “there is a free atmosphere in the country”.
