Congress counters PM Modi with ‘your divisive politics’; allies DMK … – The Indian Express

Sources in the Congress said Gandhi could approach the Supreme Court Tuesday if his membership is not restored Monday. The Congress is keen that he takes part in the no-confidence motion discussion in Lok Sabha starting Tuesday.

The party also demanded the disqualification of BJP MP from Etawah Ram Shankar Katheria who was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by a special court in Agra Saturday in connection with a 12-year-old case of assault and rioting.

Congress senior leader and Madhya Pradesh party president Kamal Nath said, “He (Katheria) should be disqualified. The law is equal for everyone… There is a big difference between what he (Katheria) did and what Rahul Gandhi is accused of.”

CPI general secretary D Raja said, “Rahul Gandhi was disqualified at lightning speed but his MP status is yet to be reinstated after two days of SC stay. BJP MP Ram Shankar Katheria was given a 2-year jail term in an assault case yesterday. Can we expect the same swiftness or a different rule book for BJP members?”.

In a Twitter post countering the PM over his ‘Quit India’ remark, Kharge said, “In the last ten years, you have only indulged in the negative politics of division. Bitter words for INDIA are now coming out in your speeches.”

प्रधानमंत्री मोदी जी,

पिछले 10 सालों से आपने केवल तोड़ने की नकारात्मक राजनीति की है। आपकी वाणी से अब INDIA के लिए भी कटु शब्द निकल रहें हैं।

1️⃣ पिछले 3 महीने से मणिपुर हिंसा को आप क़ाबू नहीं कर पाए हैं। आपकी विभाजनकारी राजनीति ने समुदायों को आपस में ऐसे लड़वाया है कि वहाँ गृह…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 6, 2023

Referring to the violence in Manipur and Nuh in Haryana, he said, “You have not been able to control the violence in Manipur. Your divisive politics have pitted communities against each other… the situation looks like a civil war. So far, over 150 people have been killed. The entire country is witness to what is happening in Haryana. Where there had not been a riot in decades…. your government there and your Sangh Parivar are making brothers fight against each other. Fundamentalists are enemies of society, whichever religion they belong to.”

“In the last 10 years, you have only given this country unemployment, price rise, economic inequality, poverty, insecurity for women, atrocities against Dalits and social injustice. All this needs to end. But it is an impossible task for your government. Instead of solving problems, the Prime Minister looks for an inauguration event everyday… indulges in politics in government events.. attacks the Opposition,” he said.

On the issue of Rahul Gandhi’s reinstatement in Lok Sabha, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said, “Rahul Gandhi ji’s conviction was stayed on Friday. As a natural consequence, he should be in Parliament tomorrow. The BJP cannot drag its feet anymore, over 48 hours have passed since the Supreme Court verdict. Any further delay in issuing the necessary notification will be going against the spirit of the SC order. As the SC rightly noted, his disqualification is not a personal matter but something that impacts the democratic rights of the people of Wayanad.”

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M K Stalin, in a Twitter post with a hashtag #RestoreRahulGandhi #INDIA, said, “Why hasn’t Thiru @RahulGandhi been restored as an MP despite the Supreme Court staying his conviction? Why the urgency shown to disqualify him is missing now? Is the BJP afraid of brother #RahulGandhi’s presence in Parliament?”.

TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, “It’s been over 48 hours since the Supreme Court stayed the unlawful conviction of Shri Rahul Gandhi. The Lok Sabha secretariat must immediately comply with the Supreme Court’s order. Any delay is unjust and in defiance of India’s highest court. Satyameva Jayate.”