‘Murder’ of democracy, says Uddhav on Rahul Gandhi disqualification

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on March 24 dubbed Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as ‘murder’ of democracy. The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi also staged a walkout in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly to protest the disqualification of the Congress leader.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on March 24 dubbed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as ‘murder’ of democracy and said that this is the beginning of the end of ‘dictatorship’.

“To call a thief a thief has become a crime in our country. While those thieves and looters are still free, Rahul Gandhi is punished,” he said.

The decision to disqualify the Congress leader as a member of the Lok Sabha is the direct murder of democracy, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra said and added that the entire government machinery is under pressure.

“This is the beginning of the end of the dictatorship... the battle only needs a direction (now),” he said.

A day after a local court in Surat convicted Mr. Gandhi in a 2019 criminal defamation case, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said the former has been disqualified from the Lower House.

Minutes after the notification came out, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi staged a walkout in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly to protest the disqualification of the Congress leader.

“We condemn the decision to disqualify Rahul Gandhi as a member of the Lok Sabha. We decided to walk out in protest,” Maharashtra Congress chief and MLA Nana Patole told the House.