MPCC protests ouster of Rahul Gandhi
Police foil MPYCC bid to take out rally
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 26 2023:
Denouncing the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha in the wake of his conviction by a lower court in Gujarat in a defamation case, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) staged a sit in protest near the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Congress Bhawan, here, on Sunday.
On the sidelines of the protest, MPCC president K Meghachandra told media persons that Congress party will continue with democratic agitations for strengthening the genuine voices of the people.
He said that conviction and disqualification of Rahul Gandhi testifies degeneration of democratic principles in the country under the present regime.
There is no meaning of democracy in the country as offenders are being awarded and people seeking truth punished, he said, adding that people of the country are unable to bear with persistent harassment of Congress and Opposition leaders.
The protest being held near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi is against harassment of people seeking truth, he added.
According to Meghachandra, Rahul Gandhi never spoke against the Modi clan but disclosed truth about financial fraud committed by Lalit Modi, Nirav Modi and some other wealthy individuals having Modi surname.
Using forged documents, Lalit Modi withdrew more than Rs 14,000 crore from a bapk while Nirav Modi withdrew over Rs 11,000 crore and both went missing.
Rahul Gandhi simply questioned the government's inaction against these financial fraudsters during a political conference in Karnataka but he was accused of speaking against the Modi clan, K Meghachandra explained, adding that the video recording of the political conference proved that Rahul Gandhi did not speak against the Modi clan but disclosed about corrupt practices of some people bearing Modi surname like Lalit, Nirav, etc.
The state's Congress chief further said that disqualification of Rahul Gandhi by the Lok Sabha speaker within 24 hours of the court's conviction clearly proves that there is no democracy in the country and the government under PM Modi continues to harass Opposition leaders instead of bringing development in the country.
While asserting that Congress party will always stand for truth, the MPCC president said that people of the country are well aware of fading democratic principles and the vivid example was removal of Rahul Gandhi's statement about link between Narendra Modi and Gautam Adani from the proceedings of the Lok Sabha.
The democratic sit-in-protest was also attended by CLP leader O Ibobi Singh, AICC Steering Committee member Gaikhangam, MLAs Th Lokeshwar, K Ranjit, O Surjakumar and other Con gress leaders.
In a similar protest on Sat urday, members and supporters of Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (MPYCC) carried out demonstration against the verdict of the Surat Court and disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha.
The protesters led by MPYCC president N Popi-lal launched the rally from Congress Bhawan around 3 pm and proceeded along the Kanglapat road with the intent to gherao the BJP Manipur Pradesh office.
How ever, the protestors carrying Congress flags and shouting slogans like "Down Down BJP", "Long Live Congress", "Long Live Rahul Gandhi" were halted by a team of Imphal West district police near Raj Bhawan and herded them back till the Congress Bhawan.
Popilal informed media persons that the verdict of Surat Court sentencing Rahul Gandhi to two years in prison in a criminal defamation case and his subsequent disqualification from Lok Sabha cannot be accepted.
The Congress will continue agitating against the dictatorial rule of BJP, he asserted.