Rahul Gandhi's MP status uncertain after conviction in defamation case

Uncertainty prevails implicit India's elder absorption person Rahul Gandhi's presumption arsenic a lawmaker aft helium was sentenced to 2 years successful situation successful a transgression defamation case.

The verdict delivered by a section tribunal successful Gujarat authorities connected Thursday could pb to his disqualification arsenic an MP.

Mr Gandhi's Congress has termed the verdict "erroneous and unsustainable".

On Friday, the enactment led absorption leaders successful a protestation march successful the superior Delhi.

The enactment says it plans much protests implicit the contented successful the coming days.

Mr Gandhi was convicted connected Thursday for his 2019 comments astir Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname astatine an predetermination rally.

He remains connected bail for 30 days and has said helium volition entreaty the verdict.

But the court's bid puts Mr Gandhi's rank of the legislature successful jeopardy. A 2013 Supreme Court bid says that a lawmaker convicted successful a transgression and sentenced to 2 oregon much years successful jailhouse basal disqualified from the parliament with contiguous effect.

If disqualified, Mr Gandhi volition not beryllium allowed to contention elections until his condemnation is suspended oregon helium is acquitted successful the case.

National elections are owed successful India adjacent year.

The Congress enactment has said Mr Gandhi is being targeted for exposing the government's "dark deeds".

Senior enactment person Jairam Ramesh called the verdict a "very superior governmental issue" that could impact "the aboriginal of our democracy".

"This is simply a large illustration of Modi government's authorities of vengeance, authorities of threats, authorities of intimidation and authorities of harassment," helium said aft a enactment gathering connected Thursday.

Ministers of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, criticised Mr Gandhi and his enactment for questioning the verdict.

Federal labour curate Bhupender Yadav said Mr Gandhi had insulted members of the caste grouping known arsenic Other Backward Classes (OBC) nether which the sanction "Modi" falls.

"Insulting immoderate surname is not state of speech," helium said.

But India's erstwhile instrumentality curate Kapil Sibal, who discontinue the Congress enactment past year, called the court's determination "bizarre".

He besides said Mr Gandhi's comments were directed astatine "an individual" and not a community.

In his absorption to Thursday's verdict, Mr Gandhi tweeted a punctuation by Mahatma Gandhi, "My religion is based connected information and non-violence. Truth is my God, non-violence the means to get it."

Several absorption parties person came retired successful enactment of Mr Gandhi. Leaders of the parties, on with Congress, program to conscionable with President Droupadi Murmu astatine her authoritative residence to sermon the matter.

On Friday, Congress was besides among 14 parties who approached the Supreme Court, alleging that the national authorities was misusing investigating agencies to people BJP's opponents.

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