Will Rahul Gandhi Be Reinstated As MP Today? All Eyes On Lok Sabha Secretariat

Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha Membership: A copy of the Supreme Court order, that stayed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s conviction by a Surat court in a criminal defamation case, was formally handed over to the Lok Sabha Secretariat

New Delhi: The Congress party has called a meeting of its Lok Sabha MPs in the party's parliamentary office at 10:30 AM on Monday over the issue of reinstating Rahul Gandhi as the Member of Parliament after the Supreme Court verdict in ‘Modi surname remark case.’ The Congress is likely to raise its demand for restoring Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership in view of the favourable Supreme Court verdict in the ‘Modi surname remark case’.

Meanwhile, a copy of the Supreme Court order, that stayed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s conviction by a Surat court in a criminal defamation case, was formally handed over to the Lok Sabha Secretariat.  Lok Sabha officials said the authenticated copy of the Supreme Court order will be reviewed and necessary action will be taken. “After the order is studied, the process usually takes less than 30 minutes. The proforma for such notifications is readily available with the secretariat,” an official was quoted as saying by media reports. 

The Congress leadership and several opposition leaders have expressed their disappointment over the Lok Sabha Secretariat’s response to their request that Gandhi should be immediately reinstated, so that he can participate in the no-confidence motion against the Modi government, which begins on August 8.

“The speed with which he was disqualified, it is important to reinstate him with the same speed. I called up Speaker Sahib last night and told him that I want to submit the court documents to you to facilitate Rahul Gandhiji’s return to the House. He then advised me to call him up this morning,” Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told reporters at a press conference.

SC Verdict In Modi Suriname Case 

In a relief to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Supreme Court, in an interim order on Friday, stayed his conviction in the criminal defamation case over the 'Modi surname' remark. The apex court issued notices to the Gujarat government and the complainant in July on an appeal of the Congress leader challenging the Gujarat High Court order.

The Gujarat HC had in its order declined to stay his conviction in the criminal defamation case in which Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years in jail by the Surat court over the 'Modi surname' remark. After his conviction in the case, Gandhi was disqualified as MP from Kerala’s Wayanad on March 24. Earlier in March, a magisterial court convicted Rahul Gandhi for his ‘Modi’ surname remarks ahead of the 2019 national polls.

No-Confidence Motion Against Modi Govt

Significantly, the Opposition parties have decided to move a no-confidence motion against the BJP-led central government in the Lok Sabha and Rahul Gandhi is also likely to take part in this. "The Bharatiya Janata Party should return Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership to him. Rahul Gandhi will take part in the 'no-confidence' motion against the Modi government's 'anti-people's policies", said Congress leader Surendra Rajput.

The debate on the no-confidence motion against the BJP-led government is likely to take place on August 8 and 9 in the Lok Sabha and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to give a reply on August 10.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have faced adjournments over opposition demands for a detailed discussion on the situation in Manipur and a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government has said it is ready for discussion on Manipur but the opposition parties are pressing for discussion under a rule which also entails voting.