By India Today News Desk: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi finally landed in India on Wednesday. He left after a Bharat Jodo high but returns embroiled in a controversy over his “democracy under attack” remarks that the BJP has used to corner Congress leaders.
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in London that democracy was under attack in India and that the government switched off mics when contentious issues were raised by Opposition MPs in Parliament created furore back in India.
The BJP has been seeking an apology from Rahul Gandhi, the Congress MP from Wayanad, over his remarks and the issue has rocked Parliament, with both Houses failing to transact any significant business on the first two days of the Budget session’s second leg.
Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the Lok Sabha after alleging in the UK that MPs weren’t being allowed to speak in Parliament has been vigorously questioned by BJP leaders.
He wasn’t also present as Opposition leaders on Wednesday started a march from Parliament House to the ED headquarters to submit a memorandum on the Adani-Hindenburg issue. The opposition parties are seeking an ED probe into the issue.
Rahul Gandhi had left for London on February 28 on what was then said to be a week-long tour. His UK trip lasted way longer than that.
Since his lectures in the UK, the BJP has accused Rahul Gandhi of maligning India on foreign soil and seeking foreign intervention.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the lies that became the foundation of his (Rahul Gandhi’s) conversation in England, were many. He claimed that he did not have access to conversation and Indian universities. That, for him, was an indication of the death of democracy,” Smriti Irani told India Today.
“Every Indian citizen demands an apology to the Indian Parliament. It is shameful that Rahul Gandhi, instead of coming to Parliament and apologising for his rant against India, is absent from Parliament,” he said.
But Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said there was no question Rahul Gandhi apologising over his remarks in the UK.
With the Congress not backing down amid unrelenting attacks from the BJP and Rahul Gandhi back in India after a fortnight, all eyes will be on the Wayanad MP on how he tackles the situation.
Source: India Today
