Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

India's Congress party holds countrywide protests over leader's disqualification

India's Congress party holds countrywide protests over leader's disqualification

Leaders of India's main opposition party Congress are holding nationwide protests against the disqualification of their leader Rahul Gandhi from parliament.
Gandhi was removed as an MP last week after he was sentenced to two years in prison in a defamation case.

He was convicted by a court for 2019 comments about PM Narendra Modi's surname at a election rally.

The Congress has criticised the action as politically motivated.

But the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has denied the allegations and said Mr Gandhi's expulsion conformed with parliamentary rules.

On Monday, hundreds of Congress leaders held protests against Mr Gandhi's disqualification in Delhi for a second day.

Protests were also held in states of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat where party workers held rallies.

In Delhi, leaders from a swath of India's opposition parties joined the demonstrations held inside Parliament premises.

Several of them wore black clothes to the House in what was the first sitting of the Lok Sabha - the lower house of parliament - since Mr Gandhi's disqualification last week.

Protests continued even inside parliament, leading to several adjournments during the day.

Ahead of the session, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of stifling dissent in the country.

"When we speak in Parliament, they don't let the House function," Mr Tiwari said. "When we speak outside, they take [a]decision that leads to disqualification [of party leaders]."

Gandhi was a Congress party MP from Wayanad in the southern state state of Kerala.

The 52-year-old leader is the scion of a Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that has given India three prime ministers - and his disqualification comes ahead of the 2024 general elections in India.

He remains on bail for 30 days and has said he will appeal the verdict given by a court in Gujarat state.

While Mr Gandhi has called the action against him politically motivated, his supporters say his disqualification is a sign that India's democratic system is weakening.

On Sunday, Mr Gandhi's sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said her brother was being targeted because he has been asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi tough questions about his relationship with Gautam Adani, founder of the Adani conglomerate.

The huge conglomerate was accused of decades of "brazen" stock manipulation and accounting fraud by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research earlier this year. The Adani Group has denied allegations of financial fraud.

Speaking at a day-long protest held by Congress, Ms Vadra said Mr Modi was a "coward" and accused him of "hiding behind his power".

"File a case on me, put me in jail too, but this is the truth," she said.

Ms Vadra added that her party would continue their fight against the BJP.

"My family has nurtured the democracy of this country with their blood. Those who think they can threaten us by insulting us or use central agencies against us, are wrong. We are not going to be threatened," she said.

Meanwhile, several opposition MPs have filed notices in the Parliament, renewing calls for an investigation into the Adani Group.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
EU Majority Demands Hungary Reverse Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws
Top Hotel Picks for 2025 Stays in Budapest Revealed
Iron Maiden Unveils 2025 Tour Setlist in Budapest
Chinese Film Week Opens in Budapest to Promote Cultural Exchange
Budapest Airport Launches Direct Flights to Shymkent
Von der Leyen Denies Urging EU Officials to Skip Budapest Pride
Alcaraz and Sinner Advance with Convincing Wins at Roland Garros
EU Ministers Lack Consensus on Sanctioning Hungary Over Rule of Law
EU Nations Urge Action Against Hungary's Pride Parade Ban
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
U.S. Considers Withdrawing Troops from Europe
Russia Deploys Motorbike Squads in Ukraine Conflict
Critics Accuse European Court of Human Rights of Overreach
Spain Proposes 100% Tax on Non-EU Holiday Home Purchases
German Intelligence Labels AfD as Far-Right Extremist
Geert Wilders Threatens Dutch Coalition Over Migration Policy
Hungary Faces Multiple Challenges Amid EU Tensions and Political Shifts
Denmark Increases Retirement Age to 70, Setting a European Precedent
Any trade deal with US must be based on respect not threats', says EU commissioner
UK Leads in Remote Work Adoption, Averaging 1.8 Days a Week
Thirteen Killed in Russian Attacks Across Ukraine
High-Profile Incidents and Political Developments Dominate Global News
Netanyahu Accuses Western Leaders of 'Emboldening Hamas'
Ukraine and Russia Conduct Largest Prisoner Exchange of the War
×