- Thursday, February 27, 2025
Gandhi’s Indian National Congress wants him to play a key role in the debate on the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government over the ongoing violence in Manipur.
By: Shubham Ghosh
RAHUL Gandhi, one of India’s major opposition faces, was on Monday (7) reinstated to the country’s parliament after the apex court put a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case over a controversial remark on the ‘Modi surname’ in a dig at prime minister Narendra Modi at an election rally in 2019.
The 53-year-old leader of the Indian National Congress was set to be back in the Lok Sabha or Lower House of the parliament where he represents Wayanad, a constituency in the southern state of Kerala.
His return to the parliament was also happening at a time when the recently formed opposition alliance of INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) has caused repeated disruptions in the parliament seeking from the government a dedicated talk on the ongoing violence in the north-eastern state of Manipur with a statement from Modi on the same.
#WATCH | I.N.D.I.A alliance leaders celebrate following restoration of Lok Sabha membership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
(Source: AICC) pic.twitter.com/vaVwBcreYM
— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2023
The opposition have also moved a no-confidence motion against the Modi government over Manipur and following the restoration of Gandhi’s membership of the parliament, his party said it would like him to be a key speaker in the debate on the motion likely to be taken up in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (8), NDTV reported.
One Congress parliamentarian told the channel that the grand-old party wants Gandhi, its former president, to take part in the discussion on the no-confidence motion since he has visited the disturbed north-eastern state in June. More than 180 people have died in the violence in the state which borders Myanmar while several have been injured and thousands have been rendered homeless.
नफरत के खिलाफ मोहब्बत की जीत ❤️ pic.twitter.com/HWKn3pG53l
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 7, 2023
The MP also said if required, Modi will present facts related to Manipur in the Lower House of the parliament.
With enormous relief, welcome the official announcement of @RahulGandhi’s reinstatement. He can now resume his duties in the Lok Sabha to serve the people of India and his constituents in Wayanad. A victory for justice and for our democracy!@INCIndia @ProfCong
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 7, 2023
Gandhi was disqualified as an MP on March 24, with effect from March 23, after a court in Surat in the western state of Gujarat convicted him in a defamation case and gave a two-year sentencing.
INDIA alliance leaders were seen celebrating Gandhi’s return as an MP with sweets.
The Congress tweeted the official notification from the Lok Sabha secretariat, calling it “Victory of love against hate” in Hindi.
Senior Congress parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor called it “a victory for justice and for our democracy”.
“With enormous relief, welcome the official announcement of @RahulGandhi’s reinstatement. He can now resume his duties in the Lok Sabha to serve the people of India and his constituents in Wayanad. A victory for justice and for our democracy!” he said in a post on X, formerly called Twitter.
The Supreme Court of India on Friday said while ordering a stay on Gandhi’s conviction that while his remarks were not in good taste, his disqualification from the parliament would affect his constituents.
He was convicted in March over the remark: “How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?”
Following the reprieve from the top court, Gandhi, who has consistently refused to apologise, said in a tweet, “Come what may, my duty remains the same. Protect the idea of India”.
