Fight not meant for Rahul Gandhi but to safeguard democracy: Maken

Senior Cong leader Ajay Maken addressing a press conference in Jammu.
Senior Cong leader Ajay Maken addressing a press conference in Jammu.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 28: The Congress’ campaign following Rahul Gandhi’s hasty disqualification from the Lok Sabha is meant to safeguard democracy and highlight corruption in the country, senior leader Ajay Maken said here today.
The former Union Minister also reiterated the party’s demand for setting up a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe into the allegations against the Adani Group.

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“Look at the sequence of events, which culminated in the hasty disqualification of Gandhi — who raised serious questions on the links between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Adani in Parliament. Instead of getting answers, he was disqualified which we see as democracy-disqualified,” he added.
“Our fight is not for Rahul (Gandhi) but it is meant to safeguard democracy in the country. We will continue our protest to expose corruption and safeguard the interests of the common citizens, who are becoming victims of crony capitalism,” Maken told reporters at the Congress office here today.
Gandhi was on March 23 sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat Court in a 2019 criminal defamation case. The two-year jail term triggered his disqualification as a Lok Sabha member from the date of the verdict.
Flanked by senior party leaders, including Pradesh Congress Committee chief Vikar Rasool Wani, working president Raman Bhalla and chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, Maken said Gandhi is not fighting to gain control of power but to defend the country’s democratic institutions and its people.
Pressing for a JPC probe into the Adani issue, Maken said the Government must respect the joint demand of the opposition as JPCs were set up twice in the past by previous regimes to make things clear.
“Why are they (BJP) afraid of setting up a JPC despite the fact that it will have the largest number of members in it?
“The JPC is a must to expose the connection between Modi and Adani and also to identify the shell companies that are directly linked to national security as there is a possibility of these companies having direct backing from China and Pakistan,” he said.
Maken referred to the sequences of events leading to the disqualification issue to substantiate his charge against BJP. He explained that on Apr 13, 2019 Rahul Gandhi makes election speech in Kolar, Karnataka, on Apr 16, 2019 BJP MLA files complaint in Surat, Gujarat, on Mar 7, 2022 the complainant seeks a stay from Gujarat HC on his own complaint; the HC grants a stay. ‘ On Feb 7 2023, Rahul Gandhi makes a speech questioning the relationship between Adani and PM Modi in Lok Sabha.
On Feb 16, 2023 the complainant withdraws his own request for a stay in the Gujarat HC. On Feb 27, 2023 hearings resume in the trial court, On Mar 23, 2023 the trial court convicts Rahul Gandhi and handed down the maximum sentence of 2 years, On Mar 24, 2023 Lok Sabha secretariat disqualifies Rahul Gandhi within 24 hours.
A BJP MLA revived the case just 9 days after Rahul Gandhi’s Adani speech in Parliament. Rahul and Kharge jis speeches in Parliament were expunged, and the BJP deliberately disrupted Parliament to avoid further discussion on Adani or on demand for a JPC. Rahul Gandhi was attacked by BJP Ministers and denied an opportunity to speak in Parliament despite three requests to the Speaker, including a written request. This clearly shows that Modi doesn’t want his relationship with Adani to be further exposed, he alleged, asking Why is Modi Government scared of JPC?