'Defiance Of India’s Highest Court': TMC Joins Oppn Chorus Over Delay In Reinstating Rahul Gandhi As MP

Opposition leaders questioned the delay in revoking Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification and said any further delay would go against the spirit of the Supreme Court order.

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Sunday said the Lok Sabha secretariat should comply with the Supreme Court order staying the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case over the use of ‘Modi’ surname and reinstate his membership of the Lower House. Slamming the BJP government at the Centre for stalling the process of restoration of Gandhi’s MP status, Moitra said any further delay would be "in defiance of India’s highest court."

Taking to Twitter, the TMC MP wrote, "It’s been over 48 hours since the Supreme Court stayed the unlawful conviction of Shri Rahul Gandhi. The Lok Sabha secretariat must immediately comply with the Supreme Court’s order. Any delay is unjust and in defiance of India’s highest court."

Echoing her words, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary KC Venugopal, too, demanded the immediate restoration of Rahul Gandhi’s membership of Lok Sabha.

Taking to Twitter, the AICC general secretary wrote, “Rahul Gandhi i’s conviction was stayed on Friday. As a natural consequence, he should be in Parliament tomorrow. The BJP cannot drag its feet anymore, over 48 hours have passed since the Supreme Court verdict.”

“Any further delay in issuing the necessary notification will be going against the spirit of the SC order. As the SC rightly noted, his disqualification is not a personal matter but something that impacts the democratic rights of the people of Wayanad,” he added.

DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, too, questioned the delay in revoking Gandhi’s disqualification and said he wondered if the BJP was afraid of the Congress leader.

READ | 'Centre Is Scared Of...': Sanjay Raut Questions Delay In Restoring Rahul Gandhi's MP Status

Taking to Twitter, Stalin posted, “Why hasn't Thiru @RahulGandhi been restored as an MP despite the Supreme Court staying his conviction? Why the urgency shown to disqualify him is missing now? Is the BJP afraid of brother #RahulGandhi's presence in Parliament? 

Voicing his apprehensions over restoring Gandhi’s MP status, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, speaking to news agency ANI, said, “The (Central) government is scared of Rahul Gandhi. Surat Court convicted him, and the Lok Sabha speaker disqualified him within 24 hours. The Supreme Court has now stayed the conviction, but his membership has not been reinstated. The I.N.D.I.A. parties will meet tomorrow to plan their strategy.”