The comments made by Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader and member of the Indian Parliament, on the state of democracy in India have caused a political uproar in the country. Gandhi spoke at an event in the UK where he claimed that democracy in India was under “brutal attack,” sparking a scathing response from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
BJP Demands Apology from Gandhi
Union ministers and BJP spokespersons have called out Gandhi for his comments and demanded an apology from him. They accused him of lying about India in London and of insulting the country from foreign soil.
Parliamentary Disruption
The controversy has rocked the Parliament, with the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha failing to transact any significant business on the first four days of the Budget session’s second half. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has called for Rahul Gandhi’s ouster from the Lok Sabha, while there are speculations about possible criminal action against him, including sedition charges.
Dubey Alleges Violation of Privileges
Dubey has argued before the Privileges Committee that Rahul Gandhi violated three privileges during his statement on the motion of gratitude to the President’s address. He accused Gandhi of breaking Rule 352 by making unfounded, slanderous, and unparliamentary claims against Prime Minister Modi without notifying the Speaker.
Sedition Charges
The BJP is considering sedition charges against Gandhi, which are defined in Section 124 A of the Indian Criminal Code. Sedition laws are found in the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Section 124 (A)), the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Section 95), the Seditious Meetings Act, 1911, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (Section 2 (o) (iii)).
Opposition Accuses Ruling Party of Suppressing Dissent
The opposition Congress party has accused the ruling party of trying to silence dissenting voices. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has defended Rahul Gandhi’s comments, saying that he was merely highlighting the “undeclared emergency” in India. The political situation in India is fraught with tension, with both the ruling party and the opposition digging in their heels.