Rahul Gandhi reinstated as Wayanad MP after Supreme Court relief in defamation case, to attend Parliament
Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as Lok Sabha member was revoked by Lok Sabha secretariat after the Supreme Court's relief in the Modi surname defamation case.
Congress's Rahul Gandhi was reinstated as Wayanad MP by the Lok Sabha secretariat after the Supreme Court's relief in the 2019 Modi surname defamation case. The Lok Sabha secretariat issued a notification announcing that his disqualification has been revoked and his membership restored.
"In continuation of Notification No. 21/4(3)/2023/TO(B), dated the 24th March, 2023, the Supreme Court of India has passed an order on 04.08.2023 in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 8644/2023, staying the conviction of Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala, which was ordered by the judgment dated23.03.2023 of the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat in C.C./ 18712/2019," an official notification issued by Lok Sabha secretariat read.
"In view of order dated 04.08.2023 of the Supreme Court of India, the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi, notified vide Gazette Notification no. 21/4(3)/2023/TO(B) dated the 24th 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, has ceased to operate subject to furtherjudicial pronouncements," it added.
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Reacting to the development, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the move brings relief to the people of India, and especially to Wayanad.
“The decision to reinstate Shri @RahulGandhi as an MP is a welcome step… Whatever time is left of their tenure, BJP and Modi Govt should utilise that by concentrating on actual governance rather than denigrating Democracy by targeting opposition leaders,” Kharge tweeted.
Congress deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari said, "Truth has triumphed, and lies has been defeated. INDIA has won, our lion Rahul Gandhi has won, Modi Ji, your defeat has begun."
In a tweet, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, "With enormous relief, welcome the official announcement of @RahulGandhi's reinstatement. He can now resume his duties in the Lok Sabha to serve the people of India and his constituents in Wayanad. A victory for justice and for our democracy!"
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi also hailed Gandhi's reinstatement as Lok Sabha MP.
On August 4, the apex court had stayed Gandhi's conviction in the case, paving the way for his reinstatement as Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad in Kerala. Gandhi was disqualified as Lok Sabha MP on March 24 after the metropolitan court in Surat in Gujarat sentenced him to two years in jail in the case a day earlier.
On July 7, the Gujarat High Court dismissed his plea seeking a stay on the conviction, after which he approached the apex court on July 15.
