A day after getting disqualified as an MP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came out with a scathing attack against the Modi regime and asserted that he won't offer an apology. Rahul Gandhi has held a press conference on Saturday- March 25 at a high time when his disqualification as an MP has sparked a nationwide political turmoil and a global spotlight. 

Rahul Gandhi was closely watched by the nation and his next possible moves were debated by the people of all ages. Amidst a tumult political ambience, Rahul Gandhi has addressed the reporters for the first time after getting convicted with a two-year jail term and getting disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP. Coming down hard on the BJP government, the Congress leader said that the democracy is being attacked in the country. 

He said, "I have said many times before that democracy is being attacked in the country. We are seeing examples of this each day. I asked questions in the Parliament regarding the relationship between PM Modi and Adani." "My speech made in Parliament was removed, and later I wrote a detailed reply to the Lok Sabha Speaker. Some ministers lied about me, that I sought help from foreign powers. But there is no such thing I have done. I will not stop asking questions. I will keep questioning the relationship between PM Modi and Adani", he added. 

By citing that he will continue to ask questions and fight for democracy in India, Rahul Gandhi stated, "This is the whole drama that is been orchestrated to defend the Prime Minister from the simple question - Who's Rs 20,000 crore went to Adani's shell companies? I am not scared of these threats, disqualifications or prison sentences." 

Rahul Gandhi further said, "I am not interested in anything but the truth. I only speak the truth, it is my work and I will keep doing it even if I get disqualified or get arrested. This country has given me everything and that's why I do this. The Prime Minister is scared of my next speech on Adani and I have seen it in his eyes. That's why, first the distraction and then the disqualification."

Responding about the 'Modi surname' remark which was the crux of the prison sentence and to the BJP leaders who accused him of defaming the OBC community, Rahul Gandhi asserted that he has never targeted any particular caste and said, "Even if they disqualify me permanently. I will keep doing my work. It doesn't matter if I am inside the Parliament or not, I will keep fighting for the country." 

In a scathing reply, Rahul Gandhi said that his name is not Savarkar (a Hindu nationalist) and that he won't issue an apology. The Congress leader said, "My name is not Savarkar. It is Gandhi and Gandhi never offers apology." His response has come when the BJP leaders urged him to apologise for his speech against the Modi rule in the United Kingdom. 

He further said, "My job is to defend the democratic nature of the country which means defending the institutions of the country, defending the voice of the poor people of the country and telling people the truth about people like Adani who are exploiting the relationship they have with the PM." Earlier on Friday, after getting disqualified, Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and wrote in Hindi,  "I am fighting for the voice of India. I am ready to pay every price." 

Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP on Friday, a day after a Surat court in Gujarat convicted him in a criminal defamation case and bestowed him a two-year prison sentence. Following the disqualification, the seat of Wayanad parliamentary constiituency, from where Rahul Gandhi got elected in 2019, was declared vacant. Rahul Gandhi was found guilty in the case of defaming the 'Modi surname'. During an election campaign in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Gandhi said, "Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, and Narendra Modi...how come they all have common surnames? How come all the thieves have 'Modi' as surnames?".  

As his remark gained traction, BJP MLA in Gujarat, Purnesh Modi lodged a complaint against Rahul Gandhi. Based on his plight, a criminal defamation case was filed against the Congress leader in Gujarat under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code. The Chief Judicial magistrate court in Surat was hearing the case and the verdict was pronounced on Thursday in which Judge HH Varma said that Rahul Gandhi was found guilty to the charges. 

As the maximum possible punishment under this section is two years, Rahul Gandhi was awarded two-year prison sentence and a fine of Rs 15,000.  Rahul Gandhi has been in a rain of support from several opposition leaders following his disqualification in the midst of a state where he can't be able to contest in the elections for the next eight years if a higher court didn't overturn or suspend the conviction pronounced by the Surat court.