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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Gandhi family of considering themselves above the Constitution, elitist and of a “class apart”. This came as a counterattack on the Congress amid nationwide protests against Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from Lok Sabha. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat spoke to the press to target the Congress, insisting that neither the BJP nor the government had anything to do with the disqualification of the Wayanad MP following his conviction in a defamation case.
Shekhawat said that the way Congress leaders were reacting showed that they considered the Gandhi family above India‘s democratic system, judiciary and the Constitution. He noted that the Surat court gave Rahul Gandhi several opportunities to apologise for his remarks on the Modi surname, but he refused, thinking that the judiciary would not dare to deliver a verdict against his family members. Shekhawat emphasised that the law had taken its course, and the BJP and the government had nothing to do with it.
Shekhawat also pointed out that the Lok Sabha had no discretionary power when it came to the disqualification of an MP in such a matter. He said that people who claimed that democracy was under threat were insulting the democratic system with their street protests against a judicial verdict and lawful action. The Union Minister also accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting a journalist during his press conference, and leaving no opportunity to insult the country and challenge the different pillars of democracy to show himself above them.
According to Shekhawat, “People like him are a threat to democracy as they consider themselves above it.” He further claimed that Gandhi’s arrogance prevented him from tendering an apology when he was given the chance by the court. The BJP leader also accused Congress leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge and Jairam Ramesh of insulting the Rajya Sabha chairperson with their conduct.
Shekhawat also accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting a patriot and freedom fighter, Veer Savarkar. He suggested that if Gandhi really wished to know Savarkar, he should go to the Andaman Jail and spend time there to realise who Savarkar actually was and the kind of sacrifices he made.