Rahul Gandhi UK remarks: Both Houses adjourned as BJP steps up apology demand

Both Houses of the Parliament were adjourned for the second consecutive day today as commotion continued over the ruling BJP stepping up the pressure for an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his comments in the United Kingdom.

Addressing a presser yesterday, Gandhi had said that he wants to respond to the charges levelled against him by the BJP but isn’t being allowed to speak in the Parliament.

Reports quoting sources said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won’t let the Congress scion speak in the House unless he formally apologises for his remarks.

Chaos continued during the second the leg of the ongoing budget session today in parliament as BJP members pushed for Gandhi’s apology while the opposition parties pressed for their demand of a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Adani-Hindenberg row.

Both sides resorted to loud sloganeering leading to the audio being muted as ruckus ensued and ultimately the parliament was adjourned for the day.

Later, in a tweet in Hindi, reiterating Rahul Gandhi’s claims of microphones of opposition leaders being muted whenever they try talking about an important issue in the parliament, the Congress said: “Earlier only the mic used to be turned off, today even the proceedings of the House were muted. The house is mute for PM Modi’s friend.”

BJP has made it clear that they won’t let Rahul Gandhi speak in the parliament until he apologizes for his remarks on Indian democracy made during his recent London speech. The Wayanad MP arrived the Lok Sabha for the second time today since the row erupted over his comments, but the house was adjourned till next week before any business could be done.

In a tweet, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla termed Gandhi’s remarks as ‘egregious and gravely offensive’ and demanded that Gandhi should first apologize to the nation before he’s allowed to speak in the Parliament.

Earlier today, BJP chief JP Nadda said that Rahul Gandhi has become a permanent part of the ‘anti-nationalist toolkit.”