Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case.
Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.
Mr Gandhi has been found guilty of defamation for a 2019 campaign trail remark implying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a criminal. However, he was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to let him appeal the decision.
The Gujarat's court's verdict is the latest legal action against opposition party figures and institutions seen as critical of the Modi government.
Here are the Highlights on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification:
The Congress has planned a nationwide "save democracy" movement to protest against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as the member of parliament, a day after a court convicted him of defamation for comments that many considered insulting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The decision was taken at a strategy meeting this evening attended by top Congress leaders. Read here
A superfast train was today stopped by Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress workers protesting against Rahul Gandhi's expulsion from parliament, a day after his defamation conviction for a remark seen as an insult against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Scores of Congress workers chanting "Rahul Gandhi Jindabad; Narendra Modi Murdabad" slogans stopped the train at Rani Kamalapati railway station in Bhopal. They also carried banners proclaiming "Black Day For Indian Democracy".
Holding a protest gathering in central Kolkata, the Congress in West Bengal on Friday said that it will put up rail and road blockades on Saturday against the disqualification of former party president Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha. Terming the disqualification as an example of the vengeful politics of the BJP, state Congress leader Ashutosh Chatterjee asserted that it is a "shameful act" on the part of the saffron party.
Reacting to his disqualification as a member of parliament today, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he is "ready to pay any cost". The move came a day after his conviction in a defamation case for a remark seen as an insult to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I am fighting for the voice of India. I am ready to pay any price," he tweeted in Hindi.
Congress chief M Kharge today said that Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from parliament as he speaks truth to power, voices peoples' concern. What was the big crime... This is not a case of backward caste or forward caste," said Mr Kharge, adding that have used all means to disqualify him. Rahul Gandhi was today disqualified from the Lok Sabha because of his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case.
Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the Shiv Sena (UBT) party, on Friday dubbed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as "murder" of democracy and said this is the beginning of the end of "dictatorship". In a statement, Thackeray said it has become a crime to call a thief a thief, while those "looting" the country are out. Read here
This has happened with Congress now, but the Samajwadi Party has faced this earlier, said Akhilesh Yadav, shining a spotlight on the disqualification of his party MP Azam Khan and his MLA son Abdullah Azam. "If the same action is taken against the BJP leaders, many will lose their membership," said Mr Yadav, the principal opposition leader in UP. Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha because of his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case.
Rahul Gandhi No Longer A Lok Sabha MP: Full Text Of Disqualification Notice#WATCH | UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi arrives at the residence of Rahul Gandhi in Delhi pic.twitter.com/IABtmJZKRf
- ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023
Congress Party briefing by @DrAMSinghvi Ji and @Jairam_Ramesh Ji at 3.45 PM, today, 24-03-2023 at AICC HQ. pic.twitter.com/rz7GXXUr9S
- Congress (@INCIndia) March 24, 2023
मोदी सरकार को सबसे ज़्यादा डर श्री @RahulGandhi व कांग्रेस पार्टी से लगता है।
- Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) March 24, 2023
लोकतंत्र की हत्या करने लिए उन्होंने श्री गाँधी की संसद सदस्यता रद्द की है।वो सच बोलने वालों का मुँह बंद करना चाहते हैं।
देशवासी ये तानाशाही नहीं सहेंगे।
लोकतंत्र की हिफ़ाज़त के लिए हम जेल तक जाएँगे। pic.twitter.com/bxvwwJik5U
Reaction on Mr Rahul Gandhi's disqualification pic.twitter.com/WCBDBxDL5n
- Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) March 24, 2023
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Rahul Gandhi being disqualified from parliament https://t.co/TELVr49xTg
- NDTV (@ndtv) March 24, 2023
श्री राहुल गांधी की लोकसभा सदस्यता खत्म करना तानाशाही का एक और उदाहरण है। बीजेपी ये ना भूले कि यही तरीका उन्होंने श्रीमती इन्दिरा गांधी के खिलाफ भी अपनाया था और मुंह की खानी पड़ी। श्री राहुल गांधी देश की आवाज हैं जो इस तानाशाही के खिलाफ अब और मजबूत होगी।
- Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) March 24, 2023
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. pic.twitter.com/IhUVHN3b1F
- Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 24, 2023
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. pic.twitter.com/d8GmZjUqd5
- Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 24, 2023
Watch | Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Rahul Gandhi being disqualified from the Lok Sabha. pic.twitter.com/n70pZDJ9Gl
- NDTV (@ndtv) March 24, 2023
#Breaking | Rahul Gandhi disqualified from Parliament day after conviction in 2019 criminal defamation case pic.twitter.com/sQlFPr2ihd
- NDTV (@ndtv) March 24, 2023
#InPics | Opposition March To Rashtrapati Bhavan On Rahul Gandhi's Sentencing In Defamation Case https://t.co/9SuoeuT9jN pic.twitter.com/pLnTJJEcm2
- NDTV (@ndtv) March 24, 2023
"Abuse Is Not Criticism, Rahul Gandhi Abused A Community": Union MinisterUnion Minister and BJP's national general secretary Bhupender Yadav today slammed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, saying using the term 'thief' for an entire community is a misuse of freedom of speech.
The 2019 Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi: Explained In 5 PointsRahul Gandhi Defamation Case: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was today found guilty in a 2019 defamation case and sentenced to two years in jail over remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname.
