Thousands of people, including UDF leaders and workers, turned up at Kalpetta—a small town in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency—to welcome Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who arrived here along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday. This was Rahul's first visit to his former constituency after being disqualified from Lok Sabha following his conviction in a defamation case.
"This disqualification is the biggest gift the BJP has given me as I did not know if what I was doing was right. But after seeing the BJP attacking me all the time, I knew I was doing the right thing. I am not going to stop as I will continue to ask questions," Rahul said, addressing a public meeting.
Rahul, a former president of the grand old party, said all that he had done was to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his relationship with industrialist Gautam Adani. He asserted that the BJP taking away his 'MP' tag will not stop him from representing the people of Wayanad or intimidate him from raising questions.
"My disqualification means nothing as my relationship with Wayanad is going to be a lifelong relationship. This disqualification will only deepen my relationship with you all. The relation is similar to a family one as I am a brother. I assure you I will never go away from you," he said.
“They might have taken my house, my MP's post and may even put me in jail, but they cannot stop me from representing you," he added.
The Congress leader further targeted the BJP, saying the saffron party had still not understood its opponent. “They do not understand that their opponent will not get intimidated. They think I will get scared by sending police to my house or that I will be disturbed if my house is taken away," he said.
Several people across all age groups had gathered on the roadside to welcome Gandhi as he travelled to the public meeting venue on a truck accompanied by his sister and senior party leaders from Kerala.
The Gandhi siblings later participated in a roadshow called 'Satyameva Jayate' in Kalpetta where only the national flag was used instead of the party flags.
Rahul 'mercilessly attacked'
In her address, Priyanka Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Centre, saying Rahul was “mercilessly attacked” by the whole BJP dispensation for raising question to the prime minister.
"I find it is even stranger that the whole government, every minister, every MP and even the Prime Minister himself finds it acceptable and appropriate to malign and mercilessly attack one man just because he asks the questions they cannot respond to," she said.
Describing Rahul as a "brave" and "compassionate" man, Priyanka said he was "undaunted" by the power of those who try to silence him.
