New Delhi, March 30
The Congress on Thursday said it firmly believes that India’s democratic processes themselves have to deal with the threats posed to its democracy, remarks that came after the BJP attacked the opposition party for its leader Digvijaya Singh thanking Germany for “taking note” of Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from Lok Sabha.
Singh thanked the German foreign ministry and Richard Walker, Chief International Editor of Deutsche Welle for “taking note of how Democracy is being compromised in India through the persecution of Rahul Gandhi”. He also tagged a tweet and a video posted by Walker on the German foreign ministry reaction to Gandhi’s disqualification.
He tagged a tweet by Walker in which the senior journalist had posted a video of a German foreign ministry spokesperson reacting to Gandhi’s disqualification.
At a press briefing, Germany’s foreign ministry spokesperson said, “We have taken note of the verdict of first instance against Indian opposition politician Rahul Gandhi as well as the suspension of his parliamentary mandate.” “To our knowledge, Mr Gandhi is in a position to appeal the verdict. It will then become clear whether this verdict will stand and whether the suspension of his mandate has any basis,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Germany expects that “standards of judicial independence and fundamental democratic principles” will equally apply to the proceedings against Rahul Gandhi, the spokesperson added.
A host of BJP leaders attacked the Congress and Singh, accusing the party of inviting foreign interference in internal affairs.
Without taking names, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter,”@INCIndia firmly believes that India’s democratic processes themselves have to deal with the threats posed to our democracy by Mr. Modi’s assault on our institutions & his politics of vendetta, intimidation, threats & harassment.”
The Congress and Opposition parties will take him on fearlessly, Ramesh added. His reaction is seen as damage control by the party amidst an all out BJP attack following Singh’s remarks.
At a press briefing, Germany’s foreign ministry spokesperson said,”we have taken note of the verdict of first instance against Indian opposition politician Rahul Gandhi as well as the suspension of his parliamentary mandate.” “To our knowledge, Mr Gandhi is in a position to appeal the verdict. It will then become clear whether this verdict will stand and whether the suspension of his mandate has any basis,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Germany expects that “standards of judicial independence and fundamental democratic principles” will equally apply to the proceedings against Rahul Gandhi, the spokesperson added.
