'Against Basic Tenets Of Constitution': Sharad Pawar On Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification

Sharad Pawar said that Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a Lok Sabha member was against the basic tenets of the Constitution and was a 'condemnable' move that curtails the democratic values.

File Photo of NCP Chief Sharad Pawar. ( Image Source :PTI )

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a Lok Sabha member was against the basic tenets of the Constitution and was a "condemnable" move that highlighted the curtailment of democratic values, as reported by the news agency PTI.

Rahul Gandhi, who represents Wayanad parliamentary constituency in Kerala, was on Friday disqualified from the Lok Sabha, a day after his conviction in a defamation case by a court in Surat in Gujarat. The court sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remarks at a 2019 poll rally in Karnataka.

However, the court also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. Commenting on the development on Friday, the NCP supremo also referred to the disqualification of his party MP from Lakshadweep Mohammed Faizal P P following the latter's conviction in an attempt to murder case. Faizal's conviction was later suspended by the Kerala High Court.

"The disqualification of Mr Rahul Gandhi and Mr Faizal a few months ago as MPs of the Lok Sabha are against the basic tenets of the constitution, where democratic values are being curtailed. This is condemnable and against the very principles on which the constitution is based," Pawar tweeted.

"Our constitution guarantees the right of each Individual to fair justice; liberty of thought; equality of status and opportunity and fraternity assuring the dignity of each Indian. #RahulGandhi," the former Union minister said in a series of tweets. We all need to stand together to defend our democratic institutions, he added. 

The disqualification of Mr Rahul Gandhi and Mr Faizal a few months ago as MP’s of the Lok Sabha are against the basic tenets of the constitution, where democratic values are being curtailed. This is condemnable and against the very principles on which the constitution is based.

— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) March 24, 2023

As per the Representation of People Act, 1951, a person convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years, shall be disqualified and will remain so for a period of the next six years. It means, that apart from his jail term, Gandhi will not be able to contest polls for subsequent six more years.

"A person convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years [other than any offence referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2)] shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction and shall continue to be disqualified for a further period of six years since his release," the Act says.

A day after Gandhi's conviction, BJP President JP Nadda slammed him saying that his ego was very big and his level of understanding was very small. Nadda further said that the Congress leader has insulted the OBC community for his political gains.

Nadda took to Twitter and said, "Rahul Gandhi's ego is very big and understanding is very small. For his political gains, he insulted the entire OBC community and called them a thief. He also ignored the option of repeatedly explaining and apologising by the society and the court and continuously hurt the sentiments of the OBC community."

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav also slammed Rahul Gandhi and said that he insulted our judicial system and defamed the nation on foreign soil. No politician has the right to insult the OBC community.

"Rahul Gandhi insulted our judicial system. He defamed the nation on foreign soil. No politician has the right to insult the OBC community. This behaviour of the leader shows Bharat Todo, not Bharat Jodo. Congress is questioning the legal decision. Insulting any surname is not freedom of speech," Bhupender Yadav said as quoted by the news agency ANI.