The Lok Sabha Secretariat on Friday disqualified Rahul Gandhi from membership of Parliament after he/she was convicted in a criminal defamation case. Political uproar has started after Rahul lost his/her Lok Sabha membership. Congress workers protested in various cities. BJP leaders alleged that Rahul tried to defame the OBC community of Narendra Modi. Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the verdict would be challenged as there were several loopholes in it. We will take it to the sessions court and the high court. A fundamental principle with regard to defamation is that it must be against a particular person and not be based on what is said in a general tone.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi is a knower of law and he/she knew that according to the present law, Rahul’s membership is bound to be snatched away. On July 10, 2013, in the case of Lily Thomas vs Union of India, the Supreme Court ruled that if a person is sentenced to two years or more, he/she cannot be a member of Parliament or Legislative Assembly. The court immediately ordered disqualification. The then government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh brought an ordinance to change this. But Rahul Gandhi opposed it by saying that such an ordinance should be torn up and thrown in the wastebasket. Rahul had created an embarrassing situation for the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Now ten years later, Rahul has been sentenced to two years and this decision of the Supreme Court applies to him/her. On the basis of this decision, the membership of Assembly member Abdullah Azam in Uttar Pradesh has ended. Abdullah Azam was also sentenced to two years by the trial court.

Congress now wants to fight this battle on a political pitch. Now Rahul Gandhi will be projected as the biggest opponent of Modi. Congress leaders will repeatedly say that Rahul is the only leader who is not afraid of Narendra Modi. Rahul Gandhi lost his/her membership but did not apologise. Only Rahul can compete with Modi. But it has to be accepted that what Rahul Gandhi did 10 years ago has turned around and appeared before him/her. Had he/she not opposed Manmohan Singh’s ordinance ten years ago, terming it as ‘utter nonsense’ and had his/her government overturned the Supreme Court’s decision, Rahul Gandhi’s membership of Parliament would have been open to him/her even after his/her conviction. There was no danger.

Tejashwi Yadav and Gujarati

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav also made a mistake on Tuesday. he/she said that all the thugs these days are from Gujarat because nowadays the thugs of Gujaratis are forgiven. Tejashwi Yadav was expressing displeasure over the action of ED-CBI against the leaders of opposition parties and in this anger he/she called Gujaratis thugs. Now RJD leaders are saying that they meant Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. Rahul Gandhi had also given the same clarification in the court that he/she had not called all the Modis but only Narendra Modi, Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi as thieves. But his/her argument did not work in the court. That’s why it would be better if the leader belongs to any party, speak carefully. Otherwise, you may get into trouble for making statements.

Kejriwal and Modi

By the way, those who are anti-Modi should learn from Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal has recovered once after apologizing in the court. They also curse Narendra Modi day and night but take so much care that such a thing does not come out of their mouth, which will have to go round the court. On Thursday too, Kejriwal fiercely attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. At the ‘Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao’ rally, Kejriwal alleged that the Prime Minister keeps on thinking throughout the day – ‘Who to put in jail and who is opposing him/her? he/she has become irritable and sleeps less, he/she has insomnia. Instead of venting anger on the people of the country, he/she should be shown to a good doctor. The kind of language used by Kejriwal for the Prime Minister is neither right from the point of view of morality nor from the point of view of decency. Kejriwal can question the Prime Minister’s policies, criticize his/her work. Everyone has a right to this in a democracy and Kejriwal also has a right to this. But personal attack on the supreme leader elected by the people of the country is not acceptable in a democracy. It is disrespectful to say about the Prime Minister that he/she has insomnia. This falling level of politics is a matter of concern for the country. (Rajat Sharma)

Watch: Aaj Ki Baat With Rajat Sharma full episode of March 23, 2023

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