Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached Parliament hours after the restoration of his membership of Parliament on Monday. Gandhi got a huge relief from the Supreme Court after it stayed his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his Modi surname remark and paved the way for his reinstatement as a Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad.
The news about the restoration of Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership triggered a wave of joy among Congress workers. Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was seen feeding laddu to party president Mallikarjun Kharge at the party office. Congress workers started celebrations to welcome the development.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a notification announcing that his disqualification has been revoked and his membership restored.
In a tweet, he said, "The decision to reinstate Shri @RahulGandhi as an MP is a welcome step. It brings relief to the people of India, and especially to Wayanad."
"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," he said.
AICC general secretary, Organisation, KC Venugopal said, "Democracy has won! India wins".
"Sh. @RahulGandhi ji will continue his parliamentary journey by speaking the truth without any hesitation. He is the voice of India, he can never be silenced," he said.
Congress whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore said, "Welcome decision. Conspiracy defeated. RG returns."
Reacting to the development, 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.
SC gives relief to Gandhi
Earlier on Friday, Gandhi got a huge relief from the Supreme Court after it stayed his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his Modi surname remark and paved the way for his reinstatement as a Lok Sabha MP.
The stay which will also enable Gandhi, 53, to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was given on the grounds the trial court in Surat in Gujarat failed to explain why he deserved the maximum two-year punishment upon his conviction that led to his disqualification from the Lower House of Parliament. The top court also noted that the sentence would not have attracted disqualification had it been a day lesser.
Observing that the utterances of Gandhi were not in good taste and a person in public life is expected to exercise caution while making public speeches, the court at the same time said his conviction and subsequent disqualification not only affected his right to continue in public life but also that of the electorate which elected him to represent their constituency.
"Truth always triumphs, if not today then tomorrow or the day after. I thank people for their support," the former Congress chief told a packed press conference at AICC headquarters, as celebrations erupted at the offices of the Congress party across the country. Several leaders of the 26-party opposition alliance INDIA also hailed the court verdict. The Congress asserted that a delay in Gandhi's re-instatement as MP on account of any "excuses" by the government would be "malafide", "unfair" and completely contrary to the heart and soul of parliamentary democracy.
Gandhi to speak on no-confidence motion
"We want that Rahul Gandhi should speak on the 'no-confidence motion' against the government in the Lok Sabha," Chowdhury told reporters. The discussion on the motion will be taken up from August 8 to 10. Congress spokesperson and Gandhi's counsel Abhishek Singhvi said Gandhi's voice for the cause of the people will soon be heard in Parliament.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cited a quote by Gautam Buddha - "Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth." She thanked the apex court on Twitter for the decision and wrote "Satyameva Jayate".
Reacting to the verdict, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said Parliament "can do with some levity for now" but the Congress leader continues to be on thin ice as several other criminal defamation cases are pending against him.
"Rahul Gandhi may have survived this one but for how long?" The top court was hearing a plea by Gandhi challenging the Gujarat High Court verdict which dismissed his plea seeking a stay on his conviction in the criminal defamation case filed by Purnesh Modi, a BJP MLA from Surat.
(With PTI inputs)
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