Rahul Gandhi raises slogans in LS over Karnataka issue
New Delhi, Jul 9: In a rare instance, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday joined his party members in raising slogans in Lok Sabha over the developments in Karnataka.
However, he remained seated and did not go in the Well of the House with the other protesting MPs.
Gandhi arrived in Lok Sabha at noon just before the commencement of Zero Hour. At that time Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury tried to raise the Karnataka issue and accused the BJP of "poaching" its MLAs in the state.
He was, however, disallowed by Speaker Om Birla saying the matter was discussed in the House on Monday and Deputy Leader of Lok Sabha Rajnath Singh had responded to the charges.
"It is your duty to save democracy," a Congress member said.
Unsatisfied with the Speaker's response, Chowdhury again tried to raise the issue.
He scribbled a few slogans on a piece of paper and gave it to his fellow MPs sitting behind him, who promptly raised them.
The members raised slogans like "Down with dictatorship" (Tanashahi band karo), "Stop the politics of poaching" (Shikar ki rajneeti band karo) and "We want justice".
Gandhi also joined them in raising slogans but remained seated in the front row of the opposition benches. His pitch was not as high as the others and he repeated the last words of the slogans. Sonia Gandhi was also sitting next to him.
It was a rare instance when Rahul Gandhi was seen participating in sloganeering in the House.
As members entered the Well, they continued with the sloganeering.
The Speaker warned the members against bringing posters.
"This is our right," said one of the members. To which the Speaker retorted, "No, it is not your right".
"The country is watching you. This is your House. By bringing placards don't make it (Lok Sabha) the house of a civic body," Birla said.
The Congress has alleged that the BJP is trying to topple the 13-month-old Congress-Janata Dal (S) government in Karnataka after a spate of resignations by ruling coalition MLAs.
So far 14 MLAs have resigned in Karnataka 11 from the Congress and three from the JD(S). If accepted, the coalition government's strength in the assembly would be reduced to 102, besides the Speaker.
With the support of two independents, who on Monday resigned from the ministry, the BJP has 107 MLAs in the 224-member House, where the half-way mark is 113.
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Kharge expresses regret over 'illiterate' remark, says he has highest of respect for Gujaratis
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New Delhi (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday expressed regret over his controversial statement calling the people of Gujarat "illiterate", and said he has always had and will continue to have the highest of respect for the people of the state.
In a post on X, the Congress president said, "Some remarks of mine in a recent election speech in Kerala are being deliberately misinterpreted. Even so, I express my sincere regret.
"It was never my intention to hurt the sentiments of the people of Gujarat for whom I have always had and will continue to have the highest of respect."
Kharge on Sunday had sparked a row during his Assembly poll campaign in Kerala, calling the people of Gujarat "illiterate" and claiming they were being "fooled" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
At the same time, Kharge said neither Modi nor Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan could fool the people of Kerala, describing them as "very clever and educated".
"Don’t misguide the people of Kerala. They are very clever and educated. Modiji, Vijayan, you both can fool people who are illiterate in Gujarat or other places, but you cannot fool the people of Kerala," the Congress chief had said.
He made the remark while alleging that both Modi and Vijayan were following the same path, with no difference between them except the parties they lead.
The BJP on Tuesday had demanded an apology from Kharge for his remarks, saying that the comment was "shameless, demeaning and utterly despicable."
Addressing a press conference here, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asked Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to clarify whether they agreed with Kharge's statement.
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