Rahul Gandhi, on Friday, was disqualified as member of Lok Sabha a day after conviction in Modi surname defamation case. Gandhi scion who represents Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala was disqualified under provisions of Article 102 (1) (e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of Representation of the People Act.
In the notification, it was stated that Gandhi was disqualified consequently after he was convicted to two years in jail by the Surat Court's Chief Judicial Magistrate in a 2019 criminal defamation case.
He had made a remark on all thieves sharing the same last name 'Modi'.
"Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat in C.C./18712/2019, Shri Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023 in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951," the notification read.
Congress leaders react to Gandhi's disqualification
Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor said that he is "stunned" by "rapidity" of the action against Gandhi. He wrote, "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."
"We will fight this battle both legally & politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti," tweeted Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh.
"They (BJP) tried all ways to disqualify him. They don't want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. We'll continue to demand JPC, If needed we'll go to jail to save democracy," said Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as MP.
"We've called a meeting of our senior party leaders at the party office at 5pm today. In the meeting, we will formulate our strategy as to how to proceed forward," he added.
Prithviraj Chavan, former Maharashtra CM, "Rahul Ganhi has been disqualified as an MP. We had suspected this as soon as the two years jail term was pronounced - this is essential to cancel anyone's membership (of the House). They could have pronounced a 6-month or 1-year jail term but the 2 years term meant that they had a further plan & they did it today. I condemn this action. This shows how scared of Rahul Gandhi is Narendra Modi."
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said, "We condemn the way in which Rahul Gandhi is disqualified...On the basis of Surat Court verdict, under Modi Govt's pressure, Lok Sabha disqualified him...If action is taken on calling someone "chor", we'll call them "daaku."
"You can removeRahul Gandhi from the seat of Parliament but it is impossible to remove him from the seat given in the heart of crores of Indians. I despise BJP's anti-democratic attitude," tweeted Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar.
Congress workers in Lucknow were detained during protest against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi.
