Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi Tuesday launched a strong critique against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the statements he made in the Lok Sabha were truthful. Gandhi's comments followed the Speaker's decision to expunge several parts of his speech, which addressed issues concerning minorities, the NEET examination controversy, and the Agnipath scheme.
"In Modi ji’s world, truth can be expunged. But in reality, the truth can't be expunged. I said what I had to say, that is the truth. They can expunge as much as they want. Truth is truth," Rahul Gandhi told reporters prior to attending the ongoing Parliament session.
According to NDTV, the expunged portions of Gandhi's speech included remarks about Hindus, PM Modi, the BJP, and the RSS. Additionally, his comments on industrialists Adani and Ambani, as well as the Agniveer Scheme, were removed from the parliamentary records.
Throughout Gandhi's hour-and-forty-minute speech, there were multiple interruptions, including interventions by Prime Minister Modi and at least five cabinet ministers. Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanded an apology from Gandhi during the session.
In his speech, Gandhi emphasized that courage is a universal value, not confined to any single religion. His remarks were made during the debate on the Motion of Thanks in response to the president's address to a joint sitting of Parliament, with his mother Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra present in the visitors' gallery.
Gandhi accused the BJP of orchestrating "systematic attacks" on the Constitution and the fundamental principles of India, highlighting the resistance from millions against the ruling party's ideology. He also recounted the personal attacks he faced, allegedly under orders from Prime Minister Modi, which included over 20 legal cases, a two-year jail sentence, eviction from his residence, and 55 hours of interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate.
