Union minister Bhupender Yadav Friday came down heavily on Rahul Gandhi, saying by using the term (chor) 'thief' for the entire Other Backward Class (OBC), he has “abused” them not “criticised”, adding insulting any surname is not "freedom of speech". The union minister targeted the Congress leader over his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court in connection with his "Modi surname" remarks case.
While speaking to news agency ANI Yadav said: "How can he (Rahul Gandhi) call the entire community "chor"? Freedom of speech does not mean defaming or insulting any community. He abused the OBC community, not criticised it. He is not even seeking an apology for his remarks. He also defamed the nation abroad".
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His remark comes just a day after leaders of the 'Teli' (oil-pressing) community demanded an apology from Gandhi, and also warned of protest. Gandhi made the "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname" remark in April 2019, at a Lok Sabha election rally at Kolar in Karnataka.
The Congress leader has been disqualified as a Lok Sabha member after a local court in Gujarat convicted him on a criminal defamation case. "Rahul Gandhi... stands disqualified from the member of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction," a notice from the national parliament said on Friday.
{{/usCountry}}The Congress leader has been disqualified as a Lok Sabha member after a local court in Gujarat convicted him on a criminal defamation case. "Rahul Gandhi... stands disqualified from the member of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction," a notice from the national parliament said on Friday.
{{/usCountry}}Shortly after Gandhi’s disqualification several Opposition leaders slammed the government for targeting opposition parties and its leaders. Targeting the BJP-led Centre, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the opposition leaders in this country have become the prime target of the BJP.
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Former Maharashtra cheif minister Uddhav Thackeray said that while thieves and looters still roam free, Gandhi was punished. This is a direct murder of democracy, he said.