'Put me in jail... will keep going': Rahul Gandhi slams BJP on disqualification

Rahul Gandhi said he does not care if he is disqualified from the Lok Sabha as his ‘tapasya’ is to defend the democratic rights of the people.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday addressed a press conference, the first after his disqualification from the Lok Sabha, and said he does not care even if he gets permanently disqualified from the Lok Sabha as his ‘tapasya’ is to work for the people. The disqualification is not about the 2019 comment, neither about the OBC as the BJP is projecting, Rahul Gandhi said, adding that it all started from his questions on Adani. “Please understand why I have been disqualified. I have been disqualified because PM Narendra Modi is scared of my next speech on Adani. I have seen it in his eyes,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi said the relationship between PM Modi and Adani will come out in open as the opposition will see the end to it.

"I am starting from the foundation. I asked only one question. Whose ₹20,000 crore in there in Adani ji's shell companies? This money does not belong to him. Adani ji has an infrastructure business and the money is someone else's. I took information from media reports. The relationship between Narendra Modi and Adani is not new. It started from the time when Narendra Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat. I showed them the photo of Narendra Modi sitting comfortably inside the aeroplane with his friend. This is what I asked. My speech got expunged. I wrote a detailed letter to the Speaker," Rahul Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi presser: 10 things Cong leader said about Adani, disqualification

"I wrote that airports have been given to Adani ji flouting rules. I submitted the rule too. It had no effect. After that, the BJP members started lying about me that I sought foreign help to India. This is the most ridiculous statement. Not one such statement was made. Instead, I said that this is India's problem. I wrote to the Speaker that this is my right to get an opportunity to speak in Parliament. I got no answers," Rahul Gandhi said.

'Speaker smiled, invited for tea…': Rahul Gandhi on speaking in Parliament

"I went to the Speaker sir's chamber and asked why he was not allowing me to speak. He smiled and said he can't allow you that. He asked me to have a cup of tea with him," Rahul Gandhi said.

"I am here to defend the democratic rights of the people. I am not scared of them. This is not in my history. I will continue asking what is the relationship between Adani and Narendra Modi," Rahul Gandhi said.

'Please understand why I am disqualified'

Rahul Gandhi said he has been disqualified because PM Modi is scared of his next speech on Adani. "I have seen it in his eyes," Rahul Gandhi said.

'Modi's panic reaction will help opposition'

Thanking all opposition parties who extended support to Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader said the panic reaction of Modi will benefit the opposition the most. "We will work together," Rahul Gandhi said.

'Don't care even if I am permanently disqualified'

Rahul Gandhi said he does not care whether he is inside Parliament or outside. "I don't care even if I am permanently disqualified because my tapasya is to work for the people. Disqualify me for life, put me in jail," Rahul Gandhi said.

‘Whatever I say, I say only after much thought’

Rahul Gandhi said the issue is not about OBC. As he was asked whether he regrets his Modi surname comment, Rahul Gandhi said, "I won't comment on the legal aspect of it. But I will say that whatever I say, I think and say."

'Gandhis don't apologise, I am not Savarkar'

On a question of apology for his 5-year-old comment on Modi surname, Rahul Gandhi said, "I just want to say I am not Savarkar. I am a Gandhi, Gandhis don't apologise."