'New Low For Constitutional Democracy': Mamata On Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification

Slamming Centre, CM Banerjee stated: "In PM Modi’s New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP."

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday slammed the PM Modi government and stated that today "we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," news agency ANI reported. 

Slamming Centre, CM Banerjee stated: "In PM Modi’s New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches."

#RahulGandhi disqualification | In PM Modi’s New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today, we have witnessed a new low… pic.twitter.com/gmDEJBr07h

— ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2023

Calling Rahul Gandhi's disqualification "bizzare and obnoxious," RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha tweeted: "Shamelessness has got a new address. Yet don't say democracy is dead in India. Parties in opposition must see that it is not about 'elections' alone but the fight must be to resuscitate Democracy...Jai Hind."

How bizarre and obnoxious. Shamelessness has got a new address. Yet don't say democracy is dead in India. Parties in opposition must see that it is not about 'elections' alone but the fight must be to resuscitate Democracy...Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/FOqR3ouDae

— Manoj Kumar Jha (@manojkjhadu) March 24, 2023

Stating that the move to squash opposition voice is "lowest in the history of parliamentary democarcy," the TMC Parliamentary Leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O Brien stated: "The BJP is desperate to silence the voice of the Opposition," PTI reported. 

VIDEO | "The BJP is desperate to silence the voice of the Opposition," says @derekobrienmp. pic.twitter.com/6lcbYiJki8

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 24, 2023

The Congress has dubbed it a "conspiracy" to silence the MP. As per the Congress, the Wayanad MP has been questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alleged connection with business magnate Gautam Adani, whose financial empire has come under scrutiny following allegations of stock manipulation and fraud, and has demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation into the matter. 

"Shri Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023 in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951," the Lok Sabha Secretariat said in a notification issued today.

"The Lok Sabha membership of Rahul Gandhi has been revoked. From the streets to the Parliament, he never stops fighting for you and our nation, doing all in his power to preserve democracy. He will continue this struggle at all costs and behave justly in this situation, notwithstanding any conspiracies. The fight goes on," Congress tweeted in hindi. 

राहुल गांधी जी की लोकसभा सदस्यता ख़त्म कर दी गई।

वह आपके और इस देश के लिए लगातार सड़क से संसद तक लड़ रहे हैं, लोकतंत्र को बचाने की हर सम्भव कोशिश कर रहे हैं।

हर षड्यंत्र के बावजूद वह यह लड़ाई हर क़ीमत पर जारी रखेंगे और इस मामले में न्यायसंगत कार्यवाही करेंगे।

लड़ाई जारी है✊️ pic.twitter.com/4cd9KfG3op

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 24, 2023

This morning, concurrent demonstrations were launched by Congress units in different states, accusing the Center of having a political vendetta. DK Shivakumar, the state president of the Congress, as well as other party officials and supporters were held by Karnataka police as they were protesting the Surat court's decision to convict Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi was recently given a two-year prison term in the case brought by BJP Legislator Purnesh Modi for his claimed comment, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" In order to give him time to file an appeal with a higher court, the court also granted him bail and suspended the punishment for 30 days.

Now, Rahul Gandhi can appeal the ruling in court. Congress leaders have questioned the move's legitimacy, arguing that only the President has the authority to dismiss MPs after consulting the Election Commission.

Rahul Gandhi won't be able to run in elections for the next eight years if the judgement is not overturned by a higher court.