Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is facing the consequences of being arrogant instead of apologising for the remarks on Modi surname in Karnataka in 2019, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said here on Saturday.
Interacting with media persons, the BJP leader said, "If only Rahul Gandhi had tendered an apology, the matter would have been closed there and then. Not only did he refuse to comment but not even once in the past five years did he say that the comment was 'unintentional'. This proves that his intent was to target that community."
He further said that BJP did not need any apology but he should have apologised to the OBC community.
"Rahul Gandhi could have issued an apology to the OBC community. But he has not done that and behaved arrogantly. Hence the court has to draw a balance between his arrogance and pride of the OBC community," Sarma commented.
The Assam Chief Minister further said that the Congress leader was not disqualified by the Centre but convicted by a court of law for insulting the OBC community.
He said, "In his speech, Rahul Gandhi used unparliamentary and defamatory words against the OBC community. Now, the court has held him guilty, and as a consequence of the pronouncement of the judgement, he has been subsequently disqualified from Lok Sabha."
According to Sarma, the judgement was not given in a hurry, like in one or two months. It was delivered after a prolonged deliberation.
He said that after Rahul Gandhi's Karnataka election speech nearly five years ago, cases were lodged against him in various parts of the country, including one in Arunachal Pradesh as well.
"Sometimes slip of the tongue happen. Rahul Gandhi should have offered an apology immediately after the speech. This happens with us too. But what we do is issue an apology and say that the comment was unintentional," Sarma added.
However, the Assam Chief Minister said that the Congress leader could approach the higher court, challenging the verdict.
Sushanta demanded Centre to start direct flight service along Agartala-Mumbai route
The state transport minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Monday met the Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu in Delhi and discussed a series of issues related to the development of air services from Agartala MBB Airport.
CM Dr Manik Saha discuses development railway services and infrastructure in Tripura
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Monday met the General Manager (Construction) of North East Frontier Railway here in his chamber at the secretariat and discussed a series of issues related to the further development of railway infrastructure in the state and ease passenger movement.
State to get Rs 150 Crore for Tourism, Sushanta Meets Union Minister Shekhawat
The Central Government has sanctioned an additional ₹150 crore for the enhancement of Tripura's tourism sector, Tripura Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury announced on Monday.
CM to inaugurate 34 projects of Rs 250 Crore tomorrow
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of various projects worth Rs 250 crore, comprising 34 projects, in Unakoti district tomorrow.
JP Nadda, BL Santosh arriving in state on March 9: CM Manik Saha
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today announced that BJP All India National President JP Nadda and National General Secretary (Org) B.L. Santosh will be arriving on March 9 to attend the two-year celebration of the present state government at Swami Vivekananda Maidan.
Two Bihar women held with cannabis at Agartala Railway Station
Acting on a tip-off, the Government Railway Police recovered 21 kg 65 grams of dried cannabis from two women at Agartala railway station. The estimated market value of the seized contraband is said to be over three lakh rupees.
UK PM announces new 1.6-billion-pound deal for Ukraine to buy missiles
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain will allow Ukraine to use 1.6 billion pounds ($2 billion) of British export finance to purchase more than 5,000 air defence missiles.
'PM Modi working for welfare of all communities without discrimination', says Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah Committee chief
Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah Committee Chairman Syed Afsar Ali Nizami on Sunday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for attending the Sufi music festival 'Jahan-e-Khusro' and said that he gave the message of brotherhood and works for the welfare of all communities and religion without any discrimination.