INDIA: On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi, a former MP and Congress leader, replied to the notice telling him to leave the bungalow at 12 Tughlaq Lane by April 22. He has lived there since 2005.
The Lok Sabha secretariat issued the letter two days after his disqualification from parliament, following the two-year jail term in the defamation case. Moreover, he would not be able to contest elections for the coming eight years.
Gandhi was told on Monday that he had to leave the government bungalow by April 22. This is because he was kicked out of the Lok Sabha last week after being found guilty of defamation. The Housing Committee of the Lok Sabha took the decision following which the secretariat of the House wrote to the former Congress president.
The letter signed by deputy secretary Mohit Rajan said, “Consequent upon your disqualification/cessation from the membership of the 17th Lok Sabha with effect from March 23…. I am directed to state that you are allowed to retain bungalow number 12 Tughlak Lane along with its units, in which you have continued to stay as your regular accommodation for a maximum period of one month.”
Now, many Congress loyalists close to Gandhi, assured them that he will vacate the official bungalow earlier than the deadline. But, if his conviction is stayed by the higher court, the party will hold him from retaining the residence.
Congress MP and the national spokesperson, Dr Naseer Hussain, said, “They use all kinds of tactics to silence voices of dissent. They have thrown one of our important leaders out of parliament by devious means and this is nothing new.”
Furthermore, he expressed his concern for Rahul and said, “One should understand that he is a special protégé. Before he can find his accommodations, he will have to have some time. Whether he will write to them or not, or what will happen, can be seen only after he takes action.”
“Every MP is given a time frame, especially those who are close to the ruling dispensation… from that party… they got three months, four months, six months,” he added.
Amidst the whole political crisis, Rahul Gandhi often took to his Twitter handle and sought proper intervention from the BJP. He wrote, “LIC’s capital, to Adani! SBI’s capital, to Adani! EPFO’s capital, too, to Adani! Why is the public’s retirement money being invested in Adani’s companies even after ‘Modani’ was exposed?”
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