Defending senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s statements on the state of country that he gave during his visit to the UK, party leader Shashi Tharoor said, “There is nothing he needs to apologise for,”
Accusing the BJP of indulging in “blatant politics”, Shashi Tharoor alleged that Gandhi is being falsely implicated on trumped-up charges by the ruling party.
Soon after both Houses of Parliament were adjourned amid protests over Rahul Gandhi’s statement in the UK, Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor accused BJP of doing “blatant politics” and claimed Gandhi of being falsely accused by the ruling party.
He said there was nothing he (Gandhi) needs to apologise for. “This is a blatant kind of politics because Rahul Gandhi did not say what he is accused of. There is nothing that he needs to apologise for,” he told news agency ANI.
Clarifying Gandhi’s remarks, the Congress leader said, “He specified that ‘we’ll solve issues internally and just want everyone to be aware, Indian democracy is global public good’.”
Shashi Tharoor’s statement came a day after the second phase of the Budget Session witnessed ruckus leading to adjournment of the Rajya Sabha till 2 PM after ruling party leaders began seeking an apology from Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks in London on democracy in India.
Leader of the House Piyush Goyal accused the Congress leader of showing the country in bad light oversees and demanded an apology from him, which led to heated arguments between treasury and opposition benches.
“It is unfortunate that from the soil of London, questions are being raised on Indian democracy,” Goyal said.
Backing the Wayanad MP, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, “It is wrong to comment on someone who is not a member of this house.”
Gandhi’s statement that the Indian democratic system is under attack and that several politicians, including himself, are being watched, has sparked a new controversy between Congress and the BJP. After numerous electoral losses, the BJP has charged him of “defaming” the nation abroad.