"Double Standards" In Conviction Of Politicians: Congress Slams BJP

The Congress alleged today that under the BJP-led Central government, the laws are different for the ruling party and the opposition, and cited the example of Amreli BJP MP Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadia, who was not disqualified despite being convicted in a criminal case and sentenced to a three-year jail term.

At a press conference, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil said Kachhadia was convicted by a Gujarat court for beating up a Dalit doctor in 2016 and his conviction was upheld by the High Court. But the BJP MP was not disqualified for weeks. He finally he got relief from the Supreme Court, but not without paying a fine, Mr Gohil sid.

The Congress leader said while Kachhadia was never disqualified, while Rahul Gandhi was disqualified within hours of his conviction by a Surat court in a defamation case. Kachhadia is still a sitting MP.

"The law is equal for all as per Article 14 of the Constitution. But Article 14 was violated for a BJP MP from Gujarat," he said, alleging that the government was following double standards in disqualification of MPs.

"When it is a BJP MP, he is not disqualified and the law is used differently, but when it comes to a Congress MP, he is disqualified immediately after getting the court verdict," he told reporters.

Mr Gohil claimed that the moment a higher court hears Rahul Gandhi's case he will get relief.

He said after Kachhadia's conviction in 2016, Congress leaders had petitioned the President of India, the Speaker, and the Election Commission to disqualify him, but no action was taken.

Similar petitions were written to the President, the Speaker, and the Election Commission when Kachhadia did not get relief from the Sessions Court and the High Court too refused to stay his conviction.

The Supreme Court accepted his apology and granted him relief after he agreed to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh to the victim, Gohil said.

The Congress leader also attacked the government for using the Delhi Police to stop the party's 'Mashal march' at the Red Fort on Tuesday evening.