Rahul Gandhi set to return to parliament as top court suspends conviction

Rahul Gandhi set to return to parliament as top court suspends conviction

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of India's main opposition party Congress, has received a major relief from the Supreme Court of India, which suspended his conviction in a defamation case on Friday. The court's order paves the way for Gandhi to return to parliament and contest the national elections due next year.

What was the case about?

Gandhi was convicted in March 2023 in a case filed by Purnesh Modi, a lawmaker from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the western state of Gujarat. The case was based on comments that Gandhi made in 2019 during an election rally, where he said that "all thieves have Modi as their surname", referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other people with the same surname, including Purnesh Modi.

Gandhi was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by a trial court in Gujarat, but the jail term was put on hold and he was granted bail. However, he also lost his parliamentary seat from Wayanad in Kerala following the conviction, since lawmakers sentenced to jail terms of two years or more are automatically disqualified under Indian law.

Gandhi challenged his conviction in the Gujarat High Court, but his appeal was rejected. He then moved to the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on his conviction and disqualification.

What did the Supreme Court say?

The Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice B.R. Gavai, suspended Gandhi's conviction and disqualification on Friday, saying that the trial court had not given any reasons for imposing the maximum sentence of two years on him. The court also observed that Gandhi's comments were "not in good taste" and he "ought to have been more careful while making public speeches", but added that the conviction not only punished Gandhi but also the voters who had elected him to represent their constituency.

The court also noted that there was no evidence to show that Gandhi had any malice or intention to defame anyone, and that he had expressed regret for his remarks. The court said that it was not going into the merits of the case at this stage, and that it would hear Gandhi's appeal against his conviction after four weeks.

What does this mean for Rahul Gandhi and Congress?

The Supreme Court's order is a significant boost for Rahul Gandhi and his party Congress, which has been struggling to revive its fortunes after losing two consecutive general elections to BJP in 2014 and 2019. Gandhi, who is the scion of a dynasty that has given India three prime ministers, is widely seen as the face of Congress and its main challenger to Modi.

With his conviction suspended, Gandhi can now resume his parliamentary duties and campaign for his party in the upcoming state elections and the national elections in 2024. He can also reclaim his position as the leader of the opposition in the lower house of parliament, which he had relinquished after his conviction.

Gandhi's supporters and Congress workers celebrated the court's verdict by shouting slogans and distributing sweets at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the leader of Congress in the lower house of parliament, said he would write to the speaker on Friday itself seeking Gandhi's reinstatement.

However, Gandhi still faces several other defamation cases filed by BJP leaders and supporters across the country over his remarks against Modi and his government. He will have to continue fighting these cases in various courts and prove his innocence.

Sources:

(2) Rahul Gandhi set to return to parliament as top court suspends conviction. https://news.yahoo.com/indias-supreme-court-suspends-rahul-081610722.html.
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