‘Arrogant dictator, illiterate’: Arvind Kejriwal as Rahul Gandhi disqualified

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday called Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP a “dictatorial move” and asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party will not be able to suppress the voice of the Opposition.

Without referring to anyone, outside the Delhi assembly, the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor said, “The country has to be saved from an arrogant dictator and illiterate person… Dismissing Rahul Gandhi ji from the membership of the Lok Sabha is a cowardly act. We respect the judiciary, but we do not agree with this judgment. Everyone is scared in the country… Now, people will have to stand up and my appeal to the people - this country belongs to all.”

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Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said in Hindi, “The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha is shocking. The country is passing through very difficult times. They have kept the whole country scared. 130 crore people will have to unite against their arrogant power."

Kejriwal alleged that the BJP wanted to create a situation wherein there is just one party in the country. This is “dictatorship” and the BJP government is “more dangerous” than the British rulers before Independence, he charged.

Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the assembly, the Delhi chief minister said under his leadership, an attempt is being made to destroy the country.

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In a speech, he also accused Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena of obstructing the work of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

"I want to tell BJP people that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, an attempt is being made to destroy the country. Those who want to destroy the country should be in BJP and those who want to save the country should leave BJP," he said.

There was an uproar in the assembly when Kejriwal spoke about the prime minister.

Gandhi was disqualification from the Lok Sabha upon his conviction and sentencing in a criminal defamation case.

Despite political differences, Kejriwal on Thursday backed Gandhi after the Congress MP was handed a suspended two-year jail term for remarks a Gujarat court ruled found defamatory. The Aam Aadmi Party boss accused the Bharatiya Janata Party - in power in Gujarat and at the centre - of hatching a “conspiracy... to eliminate non-BJP leaders and parties by prosecuting them”.

(With inputs from PTI)