Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Mar 16: Even as both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday following BJP – Opposition heated exchanges over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in London on Indian democracy, the Congress leader arrived in Parliament with an offer to clarify his stand if he was allowed to speak in the House.
Rahul Gandhi reached Parliament House on Thursday after his return from abroad and met Speaker Om Birla along with the leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, and urged him to allow him to speak in Lok Sabha. The meeting was held at 1:45 p.m. in the Speaker’s Chamber.
He earlier said he has said nothing against India or the Parliament during his London visit. Mr. Gandhi said he would speak in Parliament if he is allowed by the chair. “I went to the Parliament and told the Speaker that I want to speak in the Parliament. Four Ministers have made allegations against me and that’s why it’s my right. There is no clarity but I am not sure that they would allow. I am still hopeful that they would allow me tomorrow,” Mr. Gandhi said at a press conference.
“If they allow me to speak in Parliament, then I will say what I think,” he told reporters while leaving Parliament. He said it will not be to the BJP’s liking when he speaks inside Parliament. Mr. Gandhi said if he is not allowed, he would speak outside Parliament.
“If the Indian democracy was functioning, I would be able to say my piece in parliament. What you are seeing is a test of the Indian democracy. Whether an MP is going to be given the same space as those four ministers were given when they raised allegations against me,” said the Congress leader.
Mr Gandhi said he had spoken with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla about permission to speak in the house. “I asked the Speaker for time to speak in the House. It is my right to speak on the floor of the House,” he said, claiming that Mr Birla was “noncommittal” and “smiled”.
The Congress leader said the row over his London remarks was “just a distraction” from the questions he had raised in his speech in parliament last month. “I have a fundamental question about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s relationship with Gautam Adani. The government and the PM are scared about the Adani issue, therefore this entire controversy has been prepared,” he said.
Mr. Gandhi said, “My Parliament speech on the relationship between the Prime Minister and Adani ji was entirely expunged. The government is scared of the PM-Adani relationship and that’s why this is a diversionary tactic.” Mr. Gandhi added, “As an MP, my first responsibility is to reply in the Parliament. After that, I can discuss my comments in detail with you. Before that, I would not get into details.” Mr. Gandhi did not take any questions from reporters.
When Mr. Gandhi entered the Lok Sabha, the BJP members strongly demanded that he tenders an apology for his “democracy under attack” remark in London. Mr. Gandhi arrived in Parliament House after his return from abroad and smiled when asked if he would apologise for his remarks in London.
During an event in the U.K., Mr. Gandhi had alleged that the structures of Indian democracy are under attack and there is a “full-scale assault” on the country’s institutions.
Mr. Chowdhury later told reporters that Mr. Gandhi told the Speaker that he be allowed to speak in Parliament after his remarks made in London created a row, with the BJP demanding an apology from him while alleging that the Congress MP has insulted India and its institutions, including Parliament, on foreign soil.
“Today, within one minute of my coming to the House, they adjourned it…I went to parliament with the idea of putting what I feel on the floor of the house,” he said. He denied that he had made any anti-India speech. Asked whether he would apologise, Mr Gandhi smiled.
Several Union Ministers have demanded that Mr Gandhi apologise to the nation for his speeches in the UK, seen to be critical of the government. “The person who speaks the most in this country, and targets the government day and night, says abroad that he does not have the freedom to speak in India,” Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju told reporters.
“Rahul Gandhi can sink the Congress, we don’t care. But if he tries to harm or insult the nation, we as citizens cannot be silent. Just because the country has rejected the Congress leadership, doesn’t mean he can tarnish the nation abroad,” he added. The Law Minister said Rahul Gandhi spoke the language of anti-India forces.
The Congress has ruled out an apology, pointing out that Modi had often attacked the then Congress government on his trips abroad. “I want to ask those who are seeking an apology that Modiji went to five-six countries and there he (Modi) humiliated our country saying it was a sin to be born in India, now these people same people are curbing freedom of expression,” Mr Kharge said.
At a lecture at Cambridge University, the Congress MP said the Indian democracy is under pressure and opposition voices are being stifled. Rahul Gandhi had said, “Everybody knows and it’s been in the news a lot that Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack. I am an Opposition leader in India, we are navigating that (Opposition) space. The institutional framework which is required for democracy is Parliament, free press, and the judiciary, just the idea of mobilisation, and moving around all are getting constrained. So, we are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy.”
Meanwhile, Rahul’s cousin brother but political rival, the BJP MP Varun Gandhi has turned down an invitation from Oxford University, UK, to speak on the Narendra Modi government’s performance. The invite was sent by the office of Matthew Dick, president of the Oxford Union, to speak on the motion ‘This House Believes Modi’s India is on the Right Path.’
Declining the invite, Varun Gandhi, the MP from Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, who has been critical of several measures of the Modi government, said he felt such issues should be raised “within India to Indian policymakers”, and that he believed the topic was one “with a predefined conclusion.” He also said there were ample opportunities to speak on the matter within the country.
In his reply to the Oxford Union, Varun said he gave “priority to participate in national debate both within Parliament and through other fora in a constant and constructive manner”. “I see no merit or integrity in vocalising internal challenges in an international forum.” Varun expressed his gratitude for the invite, calling it “a mark of a great honour”. “For an ordinary citizen of a great democracy, participation in such events can be a small contribution towards enabling discourse and heightening the level of debate. I thank you for the privilege. However, I believe this topic at hand is one with a predefined conclusion and hence I would like to decline this opportunity.”
He further wrote: “India is on the right path for development and inclusiveness – a path that has been laid out and followed on by governments of varied political affiliations over the past seven decades since Independence, with a push for robust economic growth, revitalising agriculture, education and healthcare and putting India’s interest first.”
Varun added: “Citizens like me regularly have the opportunity to discuss topics like this, with ease, in India – raising criticism of government policies in the public square and the august Parliament. However, such criticism must be given within India to policymakers. Raising them outside of India would be inimical to India’s interests and a dishonourable act. Politicians like me may have our differences on individual policies at the Centre and state level, however we are all together on the same path for India’s rise.”
The Oxford Union invite said: “Having been in office since 2014, Modi’s rule has catapulted India to greater prominence on the global stage. Many equate his policy agendas to robust economic growth, tackling corruption, and putting ‘India first.’ On the other hand, Modi’s administration has been criticised for mishandling a growing discontent within the agricultural sector, instigating conflict between religious groups, and failing to revitalise the health and education sectors. Against the backdrop of ever-strong popularity among voters, it is imperative to discuss whether the BJP’s direction under Modi has been more polarising than unifying. The question then becomes: what (or who) is the right path for India as it forges ahead into the future.”
On why Varun was selected to speak, the Oxford Union invite says that as an MP, he has been an active participant in politics and in his position as a prominent member of the BJP, pushed for reform in a range of areas, such as healthcare and education.
“This work offers valuable insight into some of the challenges facing India at the moment, and his views on the BJP’s handling of these would certainly enhance this debate.” The debate was scheduled for April-June. Asked about the invite and Varun declining it, Oxford Union president Dick said he did not want to comment on the matter.