Ro Khanna admits his grandfather didn’t resign in opposition to emergency

On twenty sixth March 2023, US House Representative Ro Khanna backtracked his earlier claims by saying that his grandfather didn’t resign opposing the emergency however opted to not contest an election after that. However, he stated that his grandfather Amarnath Vidyalankar had written two letters to Indira Gandhi to register his disagreement with the emergency she imposed. Earlier, Ro Khanna had claimed that his grandfather – then MP – had resigned opposing the emergency.

How did the row begin?

On Friday (March 24), US House Representative Ro Khanna stirred the hornet’s nest by making unsolicited remarks in regards to the inner political affairs of India after Congress scion Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha following his conviction in a prison defamation case. In a tweet (archive), he claimed, “The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from parliament is a deep betrayal of Gandhian philosophy and India’s deepest values.” The US politician additional added, “This is not what my grandfather sacrificed years in jail for. Narendra Modi, you have the power to reverse this decision for the sake of Indian democracy.”

The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from parliament is a deep betrayal of Gandhian philosophy and India’s deepest values. This is just not what my grandfather sacrificed years in jail for. @narendramodi you’ve gotten the ability to reverse this determination for the the sake of Indian democracy. https://t.co/h85qlYMn1J

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) March 24, 2023

In a thread dissecting the unsolicited sermons of the US politician on Gandhian philosophy democracy, and so on., ‘The Pamphlet’ wrote, “Though it seems as If Ro has forgotten that Amarnath Vidyalankar (his grandfather), an INC loyalist, was part of Indira Gandhi’s govt during the harsh period of emergency in India. He did not oppose the brutal atrocities on the Indian masses during the Emergency.”

Though it appears as If Ro has forgotten that Amarnath Vidyalankar (his grandfather), an INC loyalist, was a part of Indira Gandhi’s govt in the course of the harsh interval of emergency in India.

He didn’t oppose the brutal atrocities on Indian lots in the course of the Emergency.

11/n pic.twitter.com/koLcR9OdeP

— The Pamphlet (@Pamphlet_in) March 25, 2023

Quoting this tweet, Ro Khanna tweeted, “It’s sad to see people maligning my grandfather who worked for Lala Lajpat Rai, was jailed in 31-32 and 41-45, and wrote two letters to Indira Gandhi opposing the emergency, leaving parliament right after. Attack me. Don’t attack India’s freedom fighters. And facts matter.”

It’s unhappy to see individuals maligning my grandfather who labored for Lala Lajpat Rai, was jailed in 31-32 and 41-45, and wrote two letters to Indira Gandhi opposing the emergency, leaving parliament proper after. Attack me. Don’t assault India’s freedom fighters. And information matter. https://t.co/mPnFS0Dftu

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) March 25, 2023

In this tweet, he apparently claimed that his grandfather not solely opposed the emergency but in addition give up the membership of parliament instantly.

Ro Khanna will get a lesson to be taught from an Indian information portal

‘The Pamphlet’ got here up with a researched reply wherein it stated, “Dear Ro Khanna, while we appreciate your reply, kindly note that the claimed fact of your grandfather resigning in protest of emergency is NOT registered anywhere. The website of Loksabha shows your grandfather’s name as one representing Chandigarh. Also, the Punjab Assembly compendium of profiles of MLAs is silent about his resignation. We do value and appreciate the struggle of all the freedom fighters, including your grandfather but this particular claim of ours is with respect to him continuing as MP while civil liberties were crushed during the emergency. His freedom fighter status doesn’t absolve him of his support of a regime that suspended civil liberties in India.”

Dear @RoKhanna whereas we recognize your reply, kindly word that the claimed truth of your grandfather resigning in protest of emergency is NOT registered anyplace.

The web site of Loksabha exhibits your grandfather’s title as one representing Chandigarh. Also Punjab Assembly… https://t.co/GuJcZLwtyS pic.twitter.com/dP2iRe0j7z

— The Pamphlet (@Pamphlet_in) March 26, 2023

‘The pamphlet’ added, “Your grandfather served on various parliamentary committees during 5th Loksabha and that too is well documented. We didn’t include any unverified claim despite coming across somewhere that your grandfather didn’t fight elections in 1977 so as to devote more time to his family following the death of his eldest son in an accident. At no point ever we discredited or disrespected your grandfather & our report was in response to your bizarre linking of a legal case decision to democratic freedom etc. Lastly, if you have any proof of your grandfather’s resignation, please send it directly to Lok Sabha Secretariat so that they may record it. Until then, our claim that your grandfather served in 5th Loksabha stands.”

‘The pamphlet’ additionally included all of the related proofs supporting their claims within the tweet. In the subsequent tweet ‘the Pamphlet’ wrote, “We do understand that you are a law graduate from Yale and hence must be aware of the basic difference between EXPULSION & DISQUALIFICATION. It should not be difficult for you to understand that Rahul Gandhi’s is a disqualification and not an expulsion as alleged by you. Also, his conviction under the law of the country and as confirmed by the Supreme Court is the causative event that triggered his disqualification- a fact that you completely ignored. Also, he is not the first lawmaker to have been disqualified under the said provisions and certainly won’t be the last until the law stays in its present shape and form.”

And @RoKhanna , we do perceive that you’re a legislation graduate from Yale and therefore should concentrate on the fundamental distinction between between EXPULSION & DISQUALIFICATION. It shouldn’t be troublesome so that you can perceive that Rahul Gandhi’s is a disqualification and never expulsion as… pic.twitter.com/2s8K4fg9bj

— The Pamphlet (@Pamphlet_in) March 26, 2023

‘The Pamphlet’ added, “We are also sure that you are aware of the fact that it was Rahul Gandhi only who protested the Congress government’s move to amend the law in 2013. Had he allowed his own Congress Government to amend it then, he would not have suffered his disqualification. On your claim of us maligning your grandfather, please note that it was you who brought your grandfather into the discussion, following Rahul’s disqualification arising out of his conviction; and even cited his jail terms during the Indian freedom struggle. Following your claims, it becomes perfectly valid for us to remind you of the fact that your grandfather continued to remain a lawmaker during the most repressive regimes India ever saw.”

Ro Khanna takes a U-turn

After getting this detailed lesson from ‘The Pamphlet’, Ro Khanna stepped again. He stated in a replying tweet that his grandfather didn’t resign in the course of the emergency. He wrote, “He did not resign, but he did not seek re-election in 1977 for both family reasons and opposition to the emergency. He wrote two letters to Indira Gandhi opposing the emergency which should be part of the archives. The emergency obviously was a stain on Indian democracy.”

He didn’t resign, however he didn’t search re-election in 1977 for each household causes and opposition to the emergency. He wrote two letters to Indira Gandhi opposing the emergency which needs to be a part of the archives. The emergency clearly was a stain on Indian democracy.

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) March 26, 2023

Ro Khanna’s maternal grandfather Amarnath Vidyalankar was a freedom fighter and a member of the Congress social gathering. During the indepence motion, he largely labored beneath Lala Rajpat Rai, and a life member of the Servants of the People Society based by Rai. During this time, he went to jail 3 times, in 1931–32, 1941–42 and 1942-1945.

He was a member of the First Lok Sabha (1952–1956) from Jalandhar, Third Lok Sabha (1962–1967) from Hoshiarpur and Fifth Lok Sabha (1971–1977) from Chandigarh. From 1957 to 1962, he was the minister of Education, Labor and Languages within the Government of Punjab. During his third time period as MP, he chaired three parliamentary committees appointed by the federal government: committees to check and enhance the Information and Broadcasting Department and the Department of Supply and Disposal and a committee to check the nationwide library in Calcutta. Apart from these, he was a member of the Public Accounts Committee, the Estimates Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings.

He determined to not contest the 1977 elections as a result of loss of life of his eldest son in a airplane crash, and by no means returned to electoral politics, as he wanted to take case of his household and the enterprise. But he remained a member of the Congress (I) social gathering until his loss of life in 1985.

It is notable that though he’s of Indian origin by lineage, Ro Khanna was born within the USA. Ro Khanna’s dad and mom, father Vijay Khanna and mom Jyotsna Khanna had immigrated to USA, and Ro was born in 1976 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He has been actively concerned in US politics as a Democratic Party chief since 2016. As such, his interference in India’s inner affairs with out absolutely understanding the political context has drawn the ire of Indians.

This is just not the primary time Ro Khanna has made unsolicited feedback on inner affairs in India, he has performed it earlier additionally. A quick account of his pointless adventures might be learn right here. Interestingly, he’s a member of the Congressional Pakistan Caucass, aside from being a member of the India Caucass.