BJP has escalated the pressure on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding his comments on Indian democracy made in the UK. They have taken steps to suspend him from the Lok Sabha if he fails to offer an apology during the House session.
The party has already made a request to the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Om Birla, to establish a special committee to investigate the possibility of suspending the Member of Parliament from Wayanad, in case he fails to apologize for his comments on Indian democracy made during his visit to the United Kingdom.
BJP sources said the matter is “not just a privilege issue, it’s much beyond that”.
In the meantime, the Delhi Police has issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi requesting information on the sexual assault victims he referred to during the Bharat Jodo Yatra held in January in Kashmir.
An officer said police have taken cognizance of his public address and social media posts on his remarks and want to take legal action against the offenders.
Hoping for House action against him, the BJP, sources said, has approached the Speaker to constitute a special committee on the lines of the panel constituted to look into the cash-for-query scandal in 2005.
A special committee, led by Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal, probed the charges against 10 Lok Sabha MPs and held that their continuance was “untenable” – it led to their expulsion. If a special committee is formed, the BJP will have a majority in it given its strength in Lok Sabha. A special committee usually submits its report in a month.
“The BJP treats the issue over Rahul Gandhi as very serious and it’s beyond a privilege issue. So we want it to be treated seriously,” a senior party leader said. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju also said the matter is “beyond privilege” and the party will seek to use “all available instruments, rules and conventions”.
“Anything related to the nation is a matter of concern for all. We do not care what’s happening to the Congress or its leadership. But if he insults the nation, we cannot keep quiet,” he said.
“The language of anti-India forces is the same. They speak on the same lines. A similar language has been used by Rahul Gandhi. It’s the language of all those who work against India,” Rijiju said.
“What he (Rahul) said has damaged the country and brought damage to the House of which he is a member… Some people do not bother about the prestige of the country,” he said. “Will the Congress party take a broom to London and clean it up?” he asked.
With the BJP insisting that he apologise, Gandhi said Thursday that he did not make any “anti-India” remark and that he would speak in Parliament, if allowed
