Hyderabad: Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan alleged a political conspiracy behind the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as Lok Sabha MP while asserting that the Congress will fight both politically as well as legally to get his disqualification from Parliament as well as conviction in the defamation case overturned.
The Congress will rally around Rahul Gandhi, and his disqualification will become the major issue in all elections, from Karnataka Assembly to Lok Sabha, Chavan asserted.
Addressing a press conference in the city, Chavan wondered how a case was registered in Surat, Gujarat, when the remarks were made in Karnataka in 2019. Following the remarks, BJP MLA Purnesh Modi lodged a complaint against Rahul Gandhi saying his remark had defamed the entire ‘Modi community’.
“The case was filed by a BJP MLA in Surat and the verdict comes in his favour when he is not even the affected person and is staying in another state. This isn't just Rahul Gandhi's problem; the country is realising what is happening. You can imagine what could happen if it is not addressed on time and no remedial measures are taken democratically. We shall definitely rake up this issue in all the elections,” Chavan affirmed.
Explaining the chronology of events from April 13, 2019, till his conviction and disqualification as MP, Chavan alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification demonstrated a deeper conspiracy to demean the Congress leader’s stature.
“This is a clear case of political conspiracy. The complainant in 2022 sought stay and the High Court granted it. However following Rahul Gandhi’s speech in Lok Sabha, within days the complainant withdrew his request for stay and hearings were resumed. The disqualification was brought on Rahul to muzzle his voice. It is a conspiracy as Rahul questioned the government on Adani’s finances,” he remarked.
On the BRS decision to contest the local body elections in Maharashtra, Chavan stated that BRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his party can contest anywhere.
“KCR’s stance is not clear whether he would ally with the BJP or Congress. However, he is welcome in Maharashtra. He has already visited my district twice. I don’t have any objection. Everyone has the freedom to meet anybody. At national level his role could be different, but in local body elections his role is not clear,” Chavan remarked.
