Congress suspends Rajasthan lawmaker for criticising Rahul

The Congress Sunday suspended its Rajasthan legislator Bhanwar Lal Sharma who had criticised Rahul Gandhi and said the party vice president was leading a "team of jokers", a party leader said.

A defiant Sharma said he stood by his remarks and challenged the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and his mother and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Pukhraj Parashar, a senior state leader told IANS that Sharma "has been suspended. A notice has been issued and dispatched to him".

Sharma, talking to IANS, ruled out any apology from his side and instead demanded one.

"Rahul Gandhi should apologise to me if democracy within the party is to be protected. I said the right thing."

"Rahul Gandhi is not capable of leadership. I challenge the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi," he said.

Sharma had made the remark about Rahul Gandhi while commenting on the reason for the party's loss in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP won all the 25 parliamentary seats from the state in the polls.