mangalore today

Rahul Gandhi’s defence on rape remark is a counterattack on PM Modi


Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Dec 13, 2019: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who was at the center of BJP’s sharp attacks in Parliament and outside over his ‘Rape in India’ barb at the government, turned down the ruling party’s demand that he should apologise. Gandhi said the entire row over his remarks at a Jharkhand election rally was an attempt to deflect attention from violent protests in north-eastern states against changes to the citizenship law, Hindustan Times reported.

 

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‘I will not apologise,” said the 49-year-old Congress leader who had rushed to Parliament soon after a vociferous demand for his apology was made by BJP lawmakers in Parliament.

At an election rally in Jharkhand, Gandhi had taken a swipe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government over sexual assaults. “PM Modi used to say ‘Make in India’ but nowadays wherever you look, it is ‘Rape in India’. In Uttar Pradesh Narendra Modi’s MLA raped a woman, then she met with an accident but Narendra Modi did not utter a word,” Gandhi told an election rally on Thursday.

In parliament, BJP lawmakers including union ministers Smriti Irani interpreted his remark to imply an invitation to rape women in India and demanded an apology. Proceedings were disrupted in both Houses and both, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, adjourned sine die.