Lok Sabha adjourned after BJP ruckus over Rahul Gandhi's UK remarks; no place for democracy under Modi rule, says Kharge

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm as the second leg of the Budget session on Monday began amid commotion with BJP MPs demanding an apology from Congress scion Rahul Gandhi for his remarks in the United Kingdom (UK).

Ruckus erupted in the Lok Sabha as BJP leaders asked the Wayanad MP to apologize for his comments made during his speech in London leading to the Opposition storming the well of the House to protest.

Meanwhile, Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the BJP for demanding an apology from Gandhi for his remarks. Addressing the media after the commotion in the Parliament, Kharge claimed that there’s no place for democracy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule and rule is law is absent while central agencies are being “misused.”

Kharge accused the ruling BJP of running the country “like a dictatorship” where dissent is muffled, while they trumpet about patriotism and respect… “and then they talk about democracy.”

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He also accused cabinet minister Piyush Goyal of breaking the House rules. Kharge also claimed that the PM Modi had in the past “ridiculed” India abroad.

Earlier, the Congress chief led a protest march Parliament House complex to Vijay Chowk along with MPs of other opposition parties, including those of the BRS, Left parties and AAP, after the BJP accused Gandhi of “defaming India” by his remarks on democracy and demanded an apology from him.

Gandhi had recently alleged in London that the structures of Indian democracy are under “brutal attack” and there is a full-scale assault on the institutions of the country.

Talking to reporters, Kharge accused PM Modi of running the country like a “dictator”, abolishing rule of law and the ruling BJP of “crushing” democracy and muzzling dissent. He also alleged that the ruling dispensation is “suppressing” Opposition by “misusing” central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation, and others.

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