New Delhi: The ordinance Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had casually trashed as “nonsense” 10 years ago could have come to his rescue today had he grasped the nuances of the consequences it entailed, a report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.
The ordinance was approved by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
‘Chronology samajhiye’
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “Chronology samajhiye. On Feb 7, Rahul makes a speech on Adani scam in Parliament. Nine days later, the complainant in Rahul’s defamation case gets a stay on his own case vacated from the Gujarat HC. On Feb 27, hearing in the Surat case begins. On March 17, the judgment is reserved. On March 23, the judgment is pronounced.”
The SC had in the “Lily Thomas versus Union of India” case of 2013 struck down Section 8 (4) of the Representation of People’s Act that not only granted protection of three months from disqualification to MPs and MLAs,
It also said that if the sitting convicted lawmaker was to file an appeal or revision within three months from the date of conviction, he can’t be disqualified till the disposal of the appeal or the revision.
The ordinance had been brought days before RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was convicted in the fodder scam.
On September 27, 2013, Gandhi, then Congress vice-president, arrived unscheduled at a press conference, where his colleague Ajay Maken had just finished defending the ordinance, and declared to everyone’s shock, “What the Congress has done and what our government has done is wrong. People will give you political lines, but I will tell you what I personally feel about this ordinance. It is complete nonsense and should be torn apart and thrown away.”
It had caused a huge embarrassment to then PM Manmohan Singh, who was on an official visit to the US at the time.
‘New low for democracy’: Opposition parties slam Centre
Meanwhile, several Opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party that are not on best terms with the Congress, reacted sharply to the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said, “In PM Modi’s ‘new India’, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of the BJP. While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the Cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy.”
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal described the development as shocking. “The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha is shocking. The country is passing through very difficult times. Over 130 crore people will have to unite against their arrogant power,” he tweeted.
DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin said, “The BJP is now trampling the democratic rights of the Opposition parties.
Such atrocities will see its end. I spoke with brother Rahul Gandhi and conveyed my solidarity. I’m confident justice will prevail.”
CPI leader Binoy Viswam said, “Anybody who dislikes the BJP can be booked for whatever reason they decide. Today, it is Rahul. Tomorrow, it can be you or me. Time to unite in defence of democracy.”
“The BJP is now using the criminal defamation route to target Opposition leaders and disqualify them,” CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said in a tweet.
“This comes on top of the gross misuse of ED/CBI against the Opposition. Resist and defeat such authoritarian assaults,” he added.
Uddhav Thackeray, leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), dubbed the move as “murder” of democracy and said it “is the beginning of the end of dictatorship”.
Lalu Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Manoj Jha called the disqualification “shameful and unfortunate”. “Nothing can be a bigger blot in the history of parliamentary democracy,” the MP said.
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