Congress chief and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from Lok Sabha, a day after a Surat court docket sentenced him in a legal defamation case.
A notification from the decrease House, signed by Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh mentioned, Mr. Gandhi stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction, as per the phrases of Article 102 (1)(e) of the Constitution and Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Mr. Gandhi was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for his “why all thieves have Modi surname” remark he allegedly made in the course of the parliamentary election marketing campaign in 2019. The court docket suspended the sentence for 30 days, in order that Mr. Gandhi can attraction in a better court docket. The court docket has given bail to him on ₹10,000 bond.
According to the Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People (RP) Act, 1951, which guides the disqualification of a legislator, the second a Member of Parliament is convicted of any offence and sentenced for not less than two years, he or she attracts disqualification.
Experts although have differing views on whether or not the conviction and sentencing means instant disqualification or the Wayanad MP will get time if he appeals.
Mr. Gandhi is the second MP to be disqualified within the current instances.
Reacting to Mr. Gandhi’s disqualification, Congress chief and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor mentioned he was surprised by the fast motion. “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.
Congress chief and social gathering’s General Secretary (Communication) mentioned the social gathering gained’t be intimidated by this motion. “We will battle this battle each legally and politically. We won’t be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, @RahulGandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti,“ he tweeted.