New Delhi: Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday stated elected representatives routinely stand disqualified the second they’re convicted by a courtroom and sentenced to jail for 2 or extra years, and hit out at Rahul Gandhi for resorting to “gimmicks” for “cheap popularity”. Thakur additionally made it clear that the Union authorities or the Lok Sabha has no position to play within the matter and can’t droop or revoke the disqualification. His assertion got here as a combative Gandhi stated he would proceed to defend democracy within the nation even when he’s disqualified from Parliament for all times or jailed. Thakur stated within the 2013 Lily Thomas Vs Union of India case, the Supreme Court had put aside Section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act which as soon as protected convicted legislators from disqualification on account of their pending attraction.
“As per judgment, disqualification is automatically effective from the date of conviction,” he stated. The minister stated the Constitution expressly prohibits Parliament to defer the date from which a disqualification would come into impact.
Elected representatives routinely stand disqualified second they’re convicted by Hon. courtroom to jail for 2 or extra years. GOI and LS don’t have any position to play. It can’t droop or revoke disqualification.
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— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) March 25, 2023
“The Lok Sabha Speaker is bound by the RP Act and SC judgment to issue membership termination order,” Thakur stated. “RG (Rahul Gandhi) is a case of political immaturity, losing whatsoever little trust left, for gimmicks and cheap popularity,” the senior BJP chief stated.
Thakur stated Gandhi was not the primary elected consultant to face disqualification. “Wonder whether legal wizards of Congress have checked the rules? Instead, they are brazenly defending their hatred for OBC which caused his conviction thus showing utter disrespect towards judiciary and people,” the Union minister stated.
The BJP has accused the previous Congress president of insulting Other Backward Classes (OBCs) together with his “Modi surname” remarks in 2019 for which a Surat courtroom convicted him, resulting in his disqualification from the Lok Sabha.
