Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut voiced his apprehensions on Sunday (August 6) regarding the delay in reinstating Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership following the Supreme Court's recent verdict. Raut highlighted the government's apparent fear of Rahul Gandhi and raised questions over the delayed restoration of his parliamentary status despite the court staying his conviction in a 2019 defamation case.
The Supreme Court granted Rahul Gandhi a stay of execution in the defamation case stemming from his remark about the Modi surname in 2019. This stay allows for the possibility of his Lok Sabha membership being reinstated.
In a video posted by news agency ANI, Raut can be heard saying: "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."
"It has been days since the Supreme Court's decision, and the membership has still not been reinstated." They say they need to practise for this; I wonder what practise he needed when he was disqualified as an MP. All parties are meeting tomorrow, and we will discuss this matter," he added.
With the Supreme Court's order in hand, the Lok Sabha speaker now holds the authority to reinstate Rahul Gandhi's membership or the Congress leader himself can seek the restoration of his MP status.
A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai, P S Narasimha, and Sanjay Kumar granted Gandhi this relief, emphasizing that the trial court judge had not provided adequate reasons for imposing the maximum sentence prescribed under the defamation act. The sentence led to Gandhi's two-year jail term and automatic disqualification as an MP in accordance with the electoral law. Click here to read more.
The bench stated that the appellate and high courts failed to take these factors into account when denying Gandhi's request for relief.
Previously, the Supreme Court dismissed Rahul Gandhi's contempt proceedings in connection with his "chowkidar chor hai" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale case. The court warned Gandhi to be more cautious in the future and dismissed the case after he offered an unconditional apology.
As the term of the 17th Lok Sabha is set to end in May 2024, the delay in reinstating Rahul Gandhi's membership has raised concerns and sparked discussions among various political parties. The I.N.D.I.A parties are scheduled to meet to discuss the matter further and chalk out a strategy.