Lok Sabha: Will keep asking questions, disqualification or jail won’t silence me: Rahul Gandhi |

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi in his first address to the media on Saturday, a day after getting disqualified from Lok Sabha, said that his voice cannot be silenced by disqualifying him as a Member of Parliament.
Congress leader’s disqualification from Lok Sabha as a MP came after the Surat court on Thursday sentenced him to two years imprisonment in a defamation case over his ‘Modi surname’ remark made in 2019 during an election rally in Karnataka. Rahul had made the ‘how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname’ remark in April 2019, at a Lok Sabha election rally at Kolar in Karnataka. The criminal defamation case against Rahul was filed by BJP MLA from Surat West Purnesh Modi.
The court, however, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. Rahul was an MP from the seat of Wayanad in Kerala.

‘Democracy being attacked’
Rahul began his press conference by re-instating that India’s democracy is being attacked. “I have said many times before that democracy is being attacked in the country. We are seeing examples of this each day. I asked questions in the Parliament regarding the relationship between PM Modi and Adani,” he said.
“My speech made in Parliament was expunged, and later I wrote a detailed reply to the Lok Sabha Speaker. Some ministers lied about me, that I sought help from foreign powers. But there is no such thing that I have done.”

‘Will not stop asking questions’
Continuing the attack on Adani-Hindenburg issue, Rahul said that he would continue to ask questions on the relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gautam Adani. “I will not stop asking questions, I will keep questioning the relationship between PM Modi and Adani. I had asked only one question on Adani. I will continue to ask questions and fight for democracy in India.”
“I am here to defend democratic voice of people of India. Will continue to do that, I am not scared of anyone,” he added.

‘Disqualification game is to distract people from real issues’
Calling it drama, Rahul said that BJP government’s allegations are a way to distract people from real issues. “Whole game of disqualification, allegations by ministers is aimed at distracting people from Adani issue. This is the whole drama that is been orchestrated to defend the Prime Minister from the simple question- Who’s Rs 20,000 crore went to Adani’s shell companies? I am not scared of these threats, disqualifications or prison sentences.”
“The Prime Minister is scared of my next speech on Adani, and I have seen it in his eyes. That is why, first the distraction and then the disqualification,” he added.

‘Will keep telling truth even if I get arrested’
Rahul re-iterated that he would continue to ask questiones even if he was arrested. “I am not interested in anything but the truth. I only speak the truth, it is my work and I will keep doing it even if I get disqualified or get arrested.”
“This country has given me everything and that is why I do this. Even if they permanently disqualify me, I will keep doing my job. it does not matter if I am inside the Parliament or not. I will keep fighting for the country,” said Rahul.

‘Will not apologise’
Rahul said that he was not Veer Savarkar and will not apologise. “I am a Gandhi and not Savarkar and Gandhis do not apologise,” he said at the press conference.