Rahul Gandhi calls Adani ‘symbol of corruption’, says neither disqualification nor jail can stop him from questioning PM Modi

Rahul Gandhi termed industrialist Gautam Adani as “symbol of corruption” in the country and reiterated that despite his disqualification, he would continue to raise questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s relationship with Adani

Just over four years after he made the ‘Modi and thieves’ remark that has now led to his sentence and disqualification from Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday termed industrialist Gautam Adani as “symbol of corruption” in the country and reiterated that despite his disqualification, he would continue to raise questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s relationship with Adani.

“They (BJP) do not want me to talk in Parliament. They are afraid that I will raise questions on Adani. They disqualified me from Parliament thinking that I will remain silent and I will be scared. I am not scared. I will again ask the Prime Minister,” he said, addressing a massive gathering of Congress workers in Kolar. He said, “Till I get answers, I will not stop. Disqualify me or put me in jail, it will not affect me.”

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He was speaking at the Jai Bharath Satyagraha at Kolar, about 80 km from Bengaluru, organised to protest his disqualification and with a call to save democracy. The event was also the first in a series of programmes planned for Mr. Gandhi ahead of Karnataka assembly elections on May 10.

Mr. Gandhi said: “In the Parliament, I questioned the Prime Minister about his relationship with Adani. First, they switched off my mike and later BJP ministers told lies about me. When I sought to respond as per the right of a member, the Speaker did not allow me. They do not want me to speak in Parliament and hence disqualified me.” Mr. Gandhi said that for the first time in the history, ruling party members stalled the Parliament where as it is the opposition that normally obstructs the proceedings.

It was on April 13, 2019, during the Lok Sabha poll campaign that Mr. Gandhi — who was elected to the Parliament from Wayanad in the same elections — made the now controversial remark. Speaking at an election rally in Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) in Kolar district on alleged corruption and bad governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014, he had asked why all thieves had the Modi surname, listing out Lalit Modi, Nirav Modi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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