THE LOK SABHA polls may be a year away, but the stage is set for an aggressive contest after Rahul Gandhi’s conviction and subsequent disqualification as an MP. This may have brought the opposition on the same platform, but the government does not seem perturbed. It has launched a counterattack, and leading it is Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur.
Q/ How do you look at Rahul Gandhi’s conviction?
A/ This is the not first time that Rahul Gandhi has blundered. In 2018, he had given a written apology in the Supreme Court (for making the chowkidar chor hai jibe). The Supreme Court mentioned at that time that he be alert and not repeat such a mistake.
There are seven [defamation] cases where he is on bail―in Patna, Ahmedabad, [the] Gauri Lankesh case, [the one] blaming [the] RSS for killing Mahatma Gandhi. He does it purposefully, mudslinging without any substance. In the present case, he had the opportunity to apologise at the Surat court and be done with it. His arrogance has led to this situation.
Q/ Was there a hurry to disqualify him?
A/ As per article 102 (1)(e) of the Constitution, read with section 8 of The Representation of the People Act, if a member of Parliament or MLA stands convicted with two years imprisonment, he stands disqualified that very moment…. He should have opposed it in a higher court [and applied] for a stay on conviction. He again showed arrogance. The first time it was disrespect to the OBC community; second time it was for not apologising in the court; third time for not approaching the higher court; and fourth, even after being disqualified you still consider yourself and your family higher than the country, Constitution and Parliament.
If one looks at his Parliament record, he has below average attendance. From 2004 till 2023, he has participated in only 21 debates. From 2009 to 2014, he has not raised even a single question about his constituency.
When you go abroad, you term Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh as managed by occupational forces. Is Indian Army an occupational force? And, ask for help from foreign powers to intervene. This raises a serious question on his capability and calibre. He is a loose cannon.
Q/ You had hinted at internal sabotage in his case?
A/ He is still not able to understand who is playing games with him. The Congress has a battery of senior lawyers in the Rajya Sabha. None of them has come forward to file an appeal in his case. Do they think they can be qualified by agitating on the roads?
Q/ Rahul Gandhi says the government action is due to his raising the Adani issue.
A/ We should not mix the two issues, which the Congress is trying to do. Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as he has abused the OBC community. He, at times, forgets that by targeting one man he is targeting the entire community. If he didn’t mean to insult the OBC community, he could have apologised. It is not that he has not apologised earlier. They are trying to deviate from the issue. The Congress has used offensive words against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but they have not been able to dent his image. In order to sully Modi’s image, he has humiliated the entire OBC community.
As for the Adani case, we have nothing to hide. We have said it in Parliament. The State Bank of India made a statement, so did the Life Insurance Corporation, Reserve Bank and Securities and Exchange Board of India. Even the finance minister spoke about it. And it was discussed in the last Parliament session, where everything came on record. He also spoke but he could not authenticate what he said. He was told to authenticate and put it on paper, but he ran away from Parliament. You can lie on the road, but not in Parliament.
Q/ Couldn’t he be allowed to retain his official residence due to security issues?
A/ After he was convicted, he was disqualified. After getting disqualified, he lost the bungalow. Now, if he wants the residence, he should apply for it.
Q/ Is the Congress trying to project Rahul Gandhi as a martyr. Will they benefit?
A/ He had apologised in Supreme Court in 2018, and in 2013 he tore an ordinance calling it nonsense. But they did not get benefit in 2019, or in 2014. Now, they won’t get any benefit after disrespecting the OBCs.
Q/ Will this became a rallying point for opposition unity?
A/ You may have seen the unity. The Shiv Sena did not join. Earlier, even the Trinamool Congress had kept distance. Everyone knows that the action was taken by the court. From 2013 to 2022, 12 MPs and MLAs have lost their membership after being convicted. He was not singled out. There was no hurry. Rules mandate that a member be disqualified the same day post conviction.
Q/ The Parliament session seems to be headed towards a washout. Is it not the government’s responsibility to run the house?
A/ The budget has been passed; the bills will also be passed, though discussion is not taking place. We believe in discussion and debate. And we believe in democracy and its process. We fought for that during Emergency, which was brought by Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother.
Q/ There is an allegation that only the Opposition parties are targeted by the investigating agencies?
A/ Anyone who has been involved in corruption is being investigated. Lalu Prasad was convicted for five years in the fodder scam. He had to resign. He and his family is facing investigation of land for jobs scam, too. (AAP leader and Delhi deputy Chief Minister) Manish Sisodia was probed in liquor scam, while Satyendar Jain has been in jail for 10 months. K. Kavitha of BRS is under scanner. Telangana, which had revenues, is now facing shortages. Now, there are enough proof against them. While the probe is on, why should they try to create political pressure?
Q/ There appears to be a controversy regarding Rahul’s reference to Savarkar.
A/ In 1983, the Indira Gandhi government authorised the film division to produce a documentary on Savarkar. A postal stamp was released. (Jawaharlal) Nehru praised him, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose invited him to Congress, Bhagat Singh used to read about him. Has Rahul Gandhi become bigger than them? Shiv Sena (Thackeray) may also have to answer for insult to Savarkar as they are Congress's ally.
Q/ Priyanka Gandhi has also attacked the BJP saying her father and brother have been abused repeatedly, yet no action was taken against anyone.
A/ I want to ask Priyanka Gandhi if she agrees with Rahul’s disrespect for the OBCs. Whom does she agree with - Nehru and Indira or Rahul Gandhi over the way Savarkar was treated? Whether freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad, Rajguru and thousands who gave their lives for the country can be ignored. There was a conspiracy in the last 70 years that contribution of these martyrs was ignored to give preference to the Gandhi family. The sacrifice of all these freedom fighters on one side, and Gandhi family on the other. Priyanka Gandhi has humiliated all the freedom fighters. She should not try to hide Rahul’s mistake which will only harm their party. She should answer who are the people or forces who didn’t allow Rahul to file plea against the court order.
Q/ Will there be a byelection in Wayanad?
A/ It is for Election Commission to decide. It is not in the hands of the government.
Q/ What will be the main election issue for the 2024 polls? Will it be Opposition's allegation of being targeted versus Modi’s governance?
A/ We fight under the leadership of a prime minister who's got a clean image; a decisive leader and world's most popular leader. This is the biggest strength. Secondly, under his able leadership, we have brought transparency, accountability in the good governance model. Thirdly, look at the large list of beneficiaries in this country: millions who got houses, potable water tap connections, electricity, free healthcare, free food grains to 80 crore people. We have delivered and made the system more accountable. And use the technology to make it more effective, too. So, that is our strength today.
Q/ Do you see the Opposition's campaign getting traction?
A/ Congress is no longer the leading party. All of them are on their own track. Mamata Banerjee is on one side, Arvind Kejriwal is on his own track. Congress looks like a regional party now. In a democracy, the ballot is bigger than anything else. Public conveys its decision through ballot. There is a clear writing on the wall that people have dismissed the idea of Mr Rahul Gandhi, and accepted the leadership of PM Modi. However hard Rahul may try to tarnish the image of Modi, he will not succeed. Because Modi, in the last 22 years since he became the Gujarat CM, has not taken even a single holiday and has spent every minute for the welfare and well-being of this country. On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi has not missed even a single opportunity to fly abroad.