New Delhi: Germany said on Wednesday said that the "standards of judicial independence and fundamental democratic principles" should apply in the case of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha after his conviction in the 2019 defamation case.
"We have taken note of the verdict of first instance against the Indian opposition politician Rahul Gandhi as well as the suspension of his parliamentary mandate. To our knowledge, Mr Gandhi is in a position to appeal the verdict," a spokesperson for the German foreign ministry said during a press briefing.
"It will then become clear whether this verdict will stand and whether the suspension of his mandate has any basis," she added.
The spokesperson further stated that Germany expects that "standards of judicial independence and fundamental democratic principles" will apply in the case.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh thanked Germany for taking note of Rahul Gandhi's disqualification. Sharing the video on Twitter, he wrote, "Thank you Germany Foreign Affairs Ministry and Richard Walker @rbsw for taking note of how the Democracy is being compromised in India through persecution of Rahul Gandhi."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified last week as a Member of Lok Sabha after he was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment by the Surat court for his 'Modi surname' remark made in 2019 during an election rally in Karnataka.
Rahul Gandhi made the "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname" remark in April 2019, at a Lok Sabha election rally at Kolar in Karnataka.
Purnesh Modi, a BJP MLA from Surat West, had filed a criminal defamation case against Rahul Gandhi.