- Title: Rahul Gandhi set to return to parliament as top court suspends conviction
- Date: 4th August 2023
- Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (AUGUST 04, 2023) (ANI - No use India) VARIOUS OF INDIA'S SUPREME COURT BUILDING INDIAN FLAG ATOP BUILDING SUPPORTERS AND MEMBERS OF INDIA'S OPPOSITION CONGRESS PARTY DISTRIBUTING SWEETS (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) LAWYER REPRESENTING INDIA'S OPPOSITION CONGRESS PARTY LEADER RAHUL GANDHI, K.C. KAUHSIK, SAYING: "The trial court, which sentenced two years of imprisonment to Rahul Gandhi, was not justified as to why he was getting this punishment. If this punishment were reduced by even one day, he would not have lost his membership in the 'Lok Sabha' (lower house of the Indian parliament). Another important thing the apex court said was that the suspension of his membership to the parliament is not merely a question of the petitioner's (Rahul Gandhi)'s right, but also a question of the rights of the electorate who elected him to the parliament. Therefore, it is important that his conviction is stayed." CONGRESS LEADER RAHUL GANDHI ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE ALONG WITH OTHER SENIOR LEADERS INDIAN CONGRESS LEADERS SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi), INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS LEADER, RAHUL GANDHI, SAYING: "Truth wins…but whatever happens my path is clear. I have clarity in my mind about what I have to do and what my work is. I thank the people who helped us. I also thank the people for their love and support." EXTERIOR OF INDIAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING INDIAN FLAG FLUTTERING IN AIR CONGRESS LEADERS CHANTING "V FOR VICTORY", "RAHUL GANDHI'S VICTORY" (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS PARTY LEADER, ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY, SAYING: "We met the speaker (of the lower house of parliament) and raised the issue of Rahul Gandhi's suspension of parliament membership that our leader Rahul Gandhi must be allowed to come back in the parliament. We asked the speaker to revoke the suspension and reinstate his membership so that he can come to the parliament and put forth his views." CONGRESS PARTY SUPPORTERS WAVING FLAGS CONGRESS PARTY SUPPORTERS DISTRIBUTING SWEETS AND CHANTING SLOGANS GANDHI WALKING WITH OTHERS RAHUL GANDHI WALKING WITH SISTER AND CONGRESS LEADER PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA
- Embargoed: 18th August 2023 13:21
- Keywords: Congress India Narendra Modi Rahul Gandhi Supreme Court Wayanad defamation member of parliament politics surname trial court
- Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA
- City: NEW DELHI, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001IMXDDU7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Supreme Court of India on Friday (August 04) suspended opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a defamation case, an order that will allow him to return to parliament and contest national elections due next year.
Gandhi was convicted in March in a case brought by a lawmaker from the western state of Gujarat belonging to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), over comments he made in 2019 deemed insulting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other people surnamed Modi, including the lawmaker.
Gandhi, 53, scion of a dynasty that has given India three prime ministers, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment but the jail term was put on hold and he was granted bail.
He also lost his parliamentary seat following the conviction, since lawmakers sentenced to jail terms of two years or more are automatically disqualified.
Lower courts and the high court in Gujarat had rejected appeals by Gandhi to suspend the conviction, causing him to appeal to the Supreme Court. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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