Rahul Gandhi disqualified from India's parliament over Modi remarks
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In relation to his comments about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname, an Indian court finds opposition leader Rahul Gandhi guilty of defamation and hands down a two-year prison term.
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Rahul Gandhi, the leading face of India’s opposition, speaks at a press conference. (Reuters)
Top Indian opposition figure Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from parliament as a result of his conviction for defamation, a notice from the national legislature said Friday.
"Rahul Gandhi... stands disqualified from the member of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction," the notice said.
The decision by the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's legislature, comes a day after Gandhi was found guilty of defamation for a 2019 campaign trail remark implying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a criminal.
In the 2019 election rally, Gandhi said, “Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname?” In his speech, he then went on to name fugitive Indian diamond tycoon Nirav Modi, banned Indian Premier League boss Lalit Modi, and Narendra Modi.
Gandhi, 52, was given a two-year prison sentence on Thursday but was released on bail after his attorneys declared they intended to appeal.
It is worth noting that Modi’s government has been widely criticized for exploiting the law to target and silence critics and opposition figures.
Gandhi’s comments were considered as an insinuation against the Prime Minister, who went on to win the election.
Gandhi’s lawyer, BM Mangukiya, affirmed that his client didn't mean to insult anyone. “When the magistrate asked Gandhi what he had to say in his defense, the Congress leader said he was fighting to expose corruption in the country,” Mangukiya told journalists outside the court. “His comments were not meant to hurt or insult any community.”
Gandhi is descended from a line of former Indian Prime Ministers, starting with the independence fighter Jawaharlal Nehru, as well as his son, grandson, and great-grandson. But he has struggled to challenge the electoral juggernaut of Modi and its nationalist appeals to the country’s Hindu majority.
Gandhi was greeted by supporters when he arrived at the court for the verdict on Thursday.
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