Guwahati: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke at a press conference on March 25 about his comments on the UK and Prime Minister Modi’s last name and whether he should ask for an apology. He added, “My name is not Savarkar. My name is Gandhi. Gandhi kisi se maafi nahi maangta (Gandhi does not make apologies to anyone).”
The former Wayanad MP claimed that he can feel fear in PM Modi’s eyes and that he is not concerned about being barred from public office for life or spending time in prison. “I will keep doing my work. Will continue to fight for my country. Will keep questioning PM Modi and Adani’s ties. I will continue to fight for truth which has now become my ultimate goal and my life motto”, said the leader.
His exclusion was the consequence of a defamation case in which he was convicted and given a prison term for making a comment in 2019 that implied Prime Minister Modi was a felon. Rahul Gandhi’s Wayanad seat is no longer filled as a result of his disqualification. Bail has been granted and his sentence has been deferred for 30 days so that he can appeal his conviction.
Chief minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma spoke with reporters hours before Rahul Gandhi’s press conference and claimed that the reason for Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification was that the court had upheld his guilt for making an unconstitutional, defamatory remark about the OBC community in 2019.
“Rahul Gandhi has not been disqualified by the government. He has been found guilty by the court and as a consequence of the pronouncement of the court, he has been disqualified. This is a judicial process, a judicial cycle and there is nothing political about it”, said Assam CM while interacting with the reporters.
CM Sarma further stated that the court found Gandhi guilty for using unparliamentary, defamatory words against the OBC community during the Karnataka elections.
“Consequent to his comments against the OBC community, several cases were filed against Rahul Gandhi. Cases were filed in Arunachal also, as the particular community also stays in Arunachal Pradesh. But anyway, after five years, this is not a decision taken today or one month back. After a prolonged judicial process for five years, he has been held guilty” added CM Sarma further.