Politics with gloves off: Congress leaders on Rahul's Lok Sabha disqualification

A Surat court sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remark .

Published on: Mar 24, 2023, 14:42:11 IST

By HT News Desk

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The Congress party on Friday said it will not be intimidated by the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as member of Lok Sabha and will fight the “battle both legally and politically.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi outside Surat court on Thursday. (Reuters) (HT_PRINT)

Jairam Ramesh, in charge of communications, said, “We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, @RahulGandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti.”

The Congress party, from its official Twitter handle, said that Rahul Gandhi will continue the fight “to save democracy” at all costs and “will take just action in this matter.”

"The fight continues," it tweeted, posting a photograph of the Congress leader in Lok Sabha.

The Lok Sabha disqualified Rahul Gandhi a day after a court jailed him for two years in a defamation case loosely linked to the prime minister, parliament said in a statement. Gandhi "stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha", parliament said, from the date of his conviction.

Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor said he was stunned by the rapidity of the action against Rahul Gandhi when an appeal against the verdict was “known to be in process,” calling it “politics with the gloves off.”

“I’m stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy,” he tweeted.

Any elected representative sentenced for any offence for two years or more faces immediate disqualification under the Representation of People Act, 1951. One provision of the Act that granted three-month protection from disqualification was struck down in 2013 as “ultra vires” by the Supreme Court in the Lily Thomas case.

The Surat court granted Rahul Gandhi bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. Gandhi can now only escape immediate disqualification as a member of parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction as well as the two-year jail term.

The Wayanad MP attended Lok Sabha on Friday briefly as the House was adjourned for an hour soon after it convened for the day.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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