Rahul Hands Over Keys To Official Delhi Bungalow, Thanks Countrymen - Watch

Pic: Twitter

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was disqualified as MP after conviction in 'Modi surname' defamation case, vacated 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow on Saturday, news agency ANI reported. Gandhi handed over the keys to the official bungalow to the Lok Sabha secretariat today. The former Congress president moved out all his belongings from an official residence on Friday itself. The former Congress president was asked to vacate the premises by April 22 following his disqualification after the conviction and two-year sentence by a Surat court for his "Modi surname" remark. The former Congress chief had on April 14 shifted his office and some personal belongings from the bungalow to his mother Sonia Gandhi's official residence. He has been living in the bungalow for nearly two decades. After shifting his office, he started living with his mother and Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence, the sources said.

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hands over his official bungalow, at Tughlak Lane, in the presence of Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi & party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal. pic.twitter.com/FAPifisfPU — ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2023

"People of Hindustan gave me this house for 19 years, I want to thank them. It's the price for speaking the truth. I am ready to pay any price for speaking the truth...," Gandhi said while talking to reporters after vacating his official residence.

#WATCH | "People of Hindustan gave me this house for 19 years, I want to thank them. It's the price for speaking the truth. I am ready to pay any price for speaking the truth...," says Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as he finally vacates his official residence after… pic.twitter.com/hYsVjmetYw — ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2023

'We Are Not Scared': Priyanka Gandhi As Rahul Vacates His Bungalow

Talking to reporters outside Rahul's 12 Tughlaq Lane residence, Priyanka Gandhi said "Whatever my brother is saying is truth. He spoke truth about the govt for which he is suffering. But we are not afraid."

#WATCH | "Whatever my brother is saying is truth. He spoke truth about the govt for which he is suffering. But we are not afraid..," says Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as Rahul Gandhi finally vacates his official residence after disqualification pic.twitter.com/ZcRbuTm5eT — ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2023

A few years ago, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also asked to vacate her Lodhi Estate bungalow after her SPG security cover was removed. Rahul Gandhi first got elected as an MP from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh in 2004 and shifted his constituency to Wayanad in 2019.

A Surat court on March 23 had convicted Gandhi of defamation and given him two-year sentence, leading to his disqualification. He had challenged the magisterial court order in the sessions court in Surat which rejected his appeal to set aside the conviction which would have paved the way for his reinstatement as MP.

The party has said the sessions court order will be challenged in the Gujarat High Court next week. A day after his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat had sent Gandhi a notice to vacate the premises by April 22. Sources said Rahul Gandhi has been on a hunt for a space to set up his independent office.

Reactions Pour In From Congress Leaders

Taking to Twitter, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, "Today Rahul Gandhi vacates his home at TughlaqLane in response to the LokSabha Secretariat’s order. The Court gave him 30 days to appeal &the HC or SC could still reinstate him, but his exemplary gesture to move out shows his respect for the rules."

Today @RahulGandhi vacates his home at TughlaqLane in response to the LokSabha Secretariat’s order. The Court gave him 30 days to appeal &the HC or SC could still reinstate him, but his exemplary gesture to move out shows his respect for the rules. #Respect #MeraGharAapkaGhar — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 22, 2023

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal also reacted to Rahul's farewell to 12, Tughlaq lane. Taking to Twitter, he said, "Today Rahul Gandhi vacates his home at TughlaqLane in response to the LokSabha Secretariat’s order. The Court gave him 30 days to appeal &the HC or SC could still reinstate him, but his exemplary gesture to move out shows his respect for the rules."

They may evict you from a house, but you will always have a place in all our homes and hearts, Rahul ji.

We know that such episodes won’t deter you from raising the voice of the people and speak truth to power!

The whole country today is saying #MeraGharAapkaGhar in one voice! pic.twitter.com/1lXL42nAEX — K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) April 22, 2023

""A house is not made of four walls and a cement roof. Home is a feeling - of peace, of peace, of love. And when crores of people open the doors of their hearts and homes for you, then what is the point! Rahul ji vacated his official residence today - his goal and destination is much higher than a house, much higher. No one can scare, no one can silence this satyagrahi of truth because he is ready to pay any cost. #MeraGharAapkaGhar A small proof of this country's love for you Rahul ji," party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate tweeted as Rahul vacated his bungalow.

घर चार दीवारों और सीमेंट की छत नहीं होता.

घर एक एहसास है - सुकून का, शांति का, प्यार का.

और जब करोड़ों लोग आपके लिये अपने दिल और घरों के दरवाज़े खोल दें तो फिर बात ही क्या है!

राहुल जी ने आज अपना सरकारी आवास ख़ाली कर दिया - उनका लक्ष्य और मंज़िल एक घर से बहुत आगे, बहुत ऊपर… — Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) April 22, 2023