New Delhi: Prominent opposition parties have questioned the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the post of MP in the wake of the Surat court verdict. On Thursday, the court sentenced Rahul to two years in prison for defamatory speech. It is noteworthy that many party leaders who did not respond on the day of the verdict came out in support of Rahul today.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and DMK leader MK Stalin had come forward for Rahul the previous day. Some other opposition parties have officially responded, but all prominent leaders have remained silent. But with the disqualification of Rahul on Friday, the leaders of parties such as TMC and CPM, which are apparently at a distance from the Congress, came forward. Leaders including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray expressed their support to Rahul.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal responded that asking questions is the responsibility of the opposition. He also blamed efforts to destroy the country under the Prime Minister. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. said that the action against a leader like Rahul is highly condemnable. Stalin responded. Truth is sure to prevail in the end. Stalin said he spoke to Rahul and expressed his solidarity.
Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee alleged that opposition leaders are being hunted in Modi’s India. Mamata also stated that while BJP leaders with criminal backgrounds are not included in the cabinet, opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches.
Uddhav Thackeray said that calling a thief a thief has become a big crime in the country. He added that this is an action against democracy.
CPM leaders including the Chief Minister have also come out in support of Rahul from Kerala. In a Facebook post, the Chief Minister said that the action against Rahul was fascism. Ministers Muhammad Riaz, MB Rajesh, CPM leader M. Swaraj also extended support to Rahul. Riaz and Swaraj said that there is an undeclared state of emergency in the country and this is the time when the democrats should protest. MB said that the action against Rahul was highly condemnable. Rajesh’s response.
It is expected that the protest against the central government will be stronger with all the prominent members of the opposition parties taking the same stand on the issue. The Congress has already made it clear that it will mount a strong protest against the central government’s policy of silencing questioners. Reports surfaced that apart from Congress workers, other party workers and leaders participated in several protests including in Delhi on Friday.