Centre scared of Adani issue, doing 'tamasha': Rahul Gandhi on BJP's apology demand
New Delhi, March 16: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who appeared in Parliament for the first time on Thursday amid the ongoing controversy over his remarks about Indian democracy in the United Kingdom, claimed that the Centre is "scared" of the Adani issue, which is why it has "prepared the entire tamasha" (drama).
The Congress leader stated that he had conveyed his message to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla about speaking in the House and that he believed he would not be allowed to speak. Gandhi appeared in Parliament for the first time today after returning to India from a visit to the United Kingdom. The government's ministers have demanded an apology from the Congress leader for his alleged "anti-India" remarks.
Gandhi told the media after Parliament adjourned here that it is his right to speak in the Parliament where allegations have been levelled against him.
"I told Speaker today that I want to speak in the Parliament. Four Ministers of the government have levelled allegations against me in the House. It is my right to speak. There is no clarity, but I don't think that he will let me speak. I am hopeful that he will let me speak tomorrow. He adjourned the House within one minute of my arrival. I want to put forth my stand," Rahul stated.
Referring to the expunged speech in Lok Sabha during the first half of the ongoing Budget Session, Rahul Gandhi claimed that he had stated everything that was already in the public domain in his speech.
"The idea is that in the speech that I delivered in the Parliament House a few days ago on Adani and his relationship with PM Modi, I asked questions. The entire speech was expunged. There was nothing in that speech that I had not carved from the public record, from the newspapers, statements of various people. But it was expunged."
"The entire matter is about distraction. The government and the Prime Minister are scared of the Adani issue because of this they have prepared this entire 'tamasha'. I feel that they will not let me speak in Parliament because the main question is still on the table. What is the relation between Adani and PM Modi and why are the defence contracts being given to him?" the Congress MP asked.
"I am an MP and my first responsibility is to answer in the Parliament. I want to discuss things with you after answering in Parliament."
The central ministers, including Anurag Thakur, Smriti Irani, and Kiren Rijiju, lambasted the Congress leader for his remarks in the United Kingdom.
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- ANI
