Opposition Unite: Here’s how leaders reacted to Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification

New Delhi/ Hyderabad: The Lok Sabha Secretariat on Friday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha. This came a day after a Surat court convicted him in a 2019 criminal defamation case.

Following this, over 30 Opposition MPs, including those from the Congress, were detained on Friday as they took out a protest march from Parliament House, alleging that democracy is in “danger,” demanding a JPC probe into the Adani issue.

Prominent leaders, including K.C. Venugopal, Adhir Chowdhury, K. Suresh, Manickam Tagore, Imran Pratapgarhi, and Mohammed Javed were stopped by the police and detained at Vijay Chowk for violating prohibitory orders. According to a senior Delhi police officer, “Over 30 MPs from Opposition parties had to be detained for violation of Section 144 (prohibitory orders).” The Delhi police said those detained have been taken to a nearby police station.

Meanwhile, the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, on Friday, staged a walkout to protest the disqualification of Mr. Gandhi.

Here’s how various national leaders reacted to the Congress leader’s disqualification:

We condemn the decision to disqualify Rahul Gandhi as a member of the Lok Sabha. We decided to walk out in protest. – Senior Congress leader Nana Patole

You can remove Rahul Gandhi from the seat of Parliament but it is impossible to remove him from the seat given in the heart of crores of Indians. I despise BJP’s anti-democratic attitude. – Karnataka Congress president D.K. Shivakumar

Rahul Gandhi’s candidacy has been cancelled. Calling a thief, a thief has become a crime in our country. Thieves & looters are still free & Rahul Gandhi was punished. This is a direct murder of democracy. All govt systems are under pressure. This is the beginning of the end of dictatorship. Only the fight has to be given direction. – Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

The BJP are desperate to silence the voice of the opposition. We know they are desperate but this is the lowest since 1950 in the history of parliamentary democracy. BJP! How low can you go? Shame on you Modi, Amit Shah. – TMC Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O’Brien

This has been done as a part of a conspiracy. The people of Bihar and the entire nation are seeing what the BJP is doing. Every move happens with their orders. – Bihar Minister Tej Pratap Yadav

In Modi’s rule, the opposition leaders have become the prime target. While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today’s act is a new low for our constitutional democracy. – West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

The largest fear for Modi government is Rahul Gandhi and Congress. To kill democracy, they have disqualified Rahul Gandhi. BJP doesn’t want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. We’ll continue to demand Joint Parliamentary Committee. If needed, we’ll go to jail to save democracy. – Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

The verdict was so unfortunate. We are doing a solidarity march in support of Rahul Gandhi ji all over India. Ever since Rahul Gandhi ji started speaking about the Adani scam, the BJP has purposefully been trying to prevent him from speaking about it. – Congress MP K.C. Venu Gopal

This is shameful and a black mark on democracy. This is the official declaration on the death of democracy in India. – RJD MP Dr. Manoj Jha

Telangana leaders call it political vendetta

This is against the natural justice and an act of political vendetta. Today Rahul Gandhi has become a national hero by this act of BJP Modi Government. Rahul Gandhi is a lone leader who is opposing the undemocratic rule of MODI Govt and hence this govt is doing all this. We have full faith in the judiciary and Rahul Gandhi will come out this successfully from the higher courts. People of India are very wise and capable of protecting democracy and will teach suitable lesson to BJP party in the coming general elections. – Dr. Mallu Ravi, senior vice-president of TPCC

Disqualification of Rahul Gandhi is a blatant misinterpretation of Constitution. The hastiness showed in this issue is highly undemocratic. I condemn this. – Telangana IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao

Today is Black Day in the history of Indian democracy. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi is the height of Narendra Modi's arrogance and dictatorship. Harassment of opposition leaders has become routine. All democrats should openly condemn the misdeeds of the BJP government so as to safeguard democracy. - Telangana chief minister KCR

Irrespective of our political affiliations, every citizen of this country should oppose this draconian decision! India will no longer be a democracy if we remain silent now. – Dileep Kontham, Telangana government digital media director

Modi’s close aid and then minister in his Gujarat’s cabinet Babu Bhokhariya was sentenced to 3-year imprisonment in illegal mining case. Was he also disqualified? Or does the law apply selectively? – Y. Sathi Reddy, Chairman of Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation

Inputs from PTI