Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress, stated that he did not anticipate being disqualified from the Lok Sabha when he entered politics but claimed that it has provided him with a “huge opportunity” to serve the public.
On Wednesday night, Mr. Gandhi, who is in the US for a three-city trip, made the comments in answer to a number of inquiries from Indian students at the esteemed Stanford University Campus in California.
The Wayanad (Kerala) Member of Parliament was expelled from the Lok Sabha earlier this year after being found guilty of criminal defamation in a 2019 case involving his use of the “Modi surname” statement by a Surat court.
Mr. Gandhi stated in his remarks that he never dreamed he would experience this when he entered politics in 2000. What he observes currently is far beyond anything he had imagined when he entered politics.
When asked about his exclusion from the Lok Sabha as a member of Parliament, Mr. Gandhi, 52, claimed he couldn’t have known that such a thing was feasible.
“However, I feel like it’s actually given me a fantastic chance. Larger than the opportunity I would have, most likely. That’s just how politics is, he declared.
“I think the drama started really, about six months ago. We were struggling. The entire opposition is struggling in India. Huge financial dominance. Institutional capture. We’re struggling to fight the democratic fight in our country,” he said, adding that at this point in time, he decided to go for the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.
“I am very clear, our fight is ours fight,” he said. “But there is a group of young students from India here. I want to have a relationship with them and want to talk to them. It’s my right to do it,” he said during his interaction with Indian students and academicians of Indian origin at the University here.
He also stressed that he does not look for assistance from anyone when he takes regular travels abroad like this.
The Stanford auditorium was filled to capacity, and Mr. Gandhi questioned, “I don’t understand why the prime minister doesn’t come here and do it,” to loud applause.
The moderator stated that the Prime Minister is welcome to visit Stanford at any time to engage with the students and academics.
Due to the crowded auditorium, several students were not permitted to enter. Two hours before the event began, students began to queue.
Several Indian ministers have interacted with Indian students over the past 1.5 years.
