Wayanad: Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi on April 11, 2023, received a rousing reception in Wayanad on his first visit to the constituency after his disqualification as a Lok Sabha member. He also addressed a public meeting in the border district of Wayanad in Kerala. In his speech, he attacked the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) for taking away his MP ‘tag’ and said it will not stop him from representing the people of Wayanad or intimidate him from raising questions.

Shri Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad after being convicted and sentenced in a criminal defamation case last month.

“Member of Parliament is a tag. It is a post. So, BJP can take away the tag, the post, the house and they can even jail me, but they cannot stop me from representing the people of Wayanad,” he said. Shri Rahul Gandhi added that he is surprised that even after so many years, BJP has not ‘understood’ its opponent. He also said that while the BJP was trying to divide the people, he would keep on uniting people.

“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. Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the attack on Rahul was a symptom of dictatorship. “It is strange that one person is being attacked by the entire government for raising questions. When institutions are failing to ensure checks and balances, it is the duty of people to ensure it,” she said.

Former Congress President Shri Rahul accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also participated in a roadshow called ‘Satyameva Jayate’ in Kalpetta town at around 4 pm. Party workers and supporters from Wayanad and nearby districts thronged the roads of Kalpetta with placards in support of Rahul Ji.