Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification: Congress Announces Mass Movement, RaGa's Presser Tomorrow

Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case Latest News Today: Opposition leaders today rallied their support behind Rahul Gandhi after the Congress leader was disqualified as an MP following his conviction in a defamation case.

Written By Zee Media Bureau|Last Updated: Mar 24, 2023, 11:56 PM IST|Source:

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The Lok Sabha Secretariat today issued a notice announcing Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the lower house of Parliament. The announcement came a day after Rahul Gandhi was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case. Rahul Gandhi was a Member of Parliament from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. The Lok Sabha Secretariat said that Gandhi's disqualification was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction. "Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat...Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.E. 23 March, 2023," the notification read. The Congress has announced a mass protest against the decision.

The court in Surat sentenced on Thursday Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" Following his disqualification, Rahul Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence. On the other hand, opposition leaders including MK Stalin and Mamata Banerjee have rallied their support behind the Congress leader.

24 March 2023

20:54 PM

Live Updates | 'All Opposition Parties Must Unite In Fight Against Mischievous Move Of Modi Govt', Says Antony

Senior Congress leader A K Antony today said that democracy is in danger in India. "All those parties must forget their differences. First thing's first, we must protect our democracy, Constitution. So, all opposition parties must unite and fight against this mischievous move by present govt," he said.

20:15 PM

Live Update: 'Rahul Gandhi Yet To Come Out Of Monarchical Mindset', Says Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Friday welcomed the two-year imprisonment awarded to senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying the "crown prince" has still not come out of his monarchical mindset.

19:55 PM

Live Updates | 'Suppressing Dissent By Force Is Fascist Method', Says Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed Rahul Gandhi's disqualification a "violent attack on democracy" by the Sangh Parivar. "Suppressing dissent by force is a fascist method," Vijayan said in a statement.

19:22 PM

Live Update: 'Congress Has Every Right To Fight It Legally', Says BJP MP

Congress has every right to fight it legally. But the British followed the policy of 'divide and rule' and Congress was also founded by a British. Ever since they came to power in 1947, they ruled on the basis of caste discrimination. This is nothing new. Congress has always functioned on the foundation of caste discrimination. Rahul Gandhi is paying the price: BJP MP Arvind Dharmapuri

19:08 PM

Live Updates | BSP MP Terms Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification Unfortunate

BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali termed Gandhi's disqualification unfortunate, and said if MPs were to lose their membership on such matters of defamation, then 70 per cent of parliamentarians will lose their membership, most of them being from the BJP, he claimed. He alleged that many BJP leaders have linked Muslims to terrorism, while criticising the disqualification. "If such an issue becomes a yardstick to disqualify an MP, then filing defamation cases will become a means to strip lawmakers of their membership," he said.

18:54 PM

Rahul Gandhi Latest News Today: RJD Leader Manoj Jha Slams BJP

Alleging that Rahul Gandhi's disqualification is the official announcement of the "death of democracy", RJD leader Manoj Jha said there is no bigger blot on parliamentary democracy in history than this. Citing the manner in which he was disqualified, Jha said Gandhi's comments about democracy under threat in India have been proved right by the government. "The BJP has no respect for democracy in its heart, word and action," he alleged and called for a unity among opposition parties to dismantle this "dictatorship".

18:50 PM

Live Updates: Mahua Moitra Says Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification Last Nail In Coffin For Constitutional Freedoms

The AITC strongly condemn the developments that have unfolded. Rahul Gandhi's disqualification is the last nail in the coffin for constitutional freedoms in India: TMC MP Mahua Moitra

18:40 PM

Live Updates: Sitaram Yechury Says BJP Using Criminal Defamation Route To Target Opposition Leaders

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury today slammed the BJP over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification. "It's condemnable that the BJP is now using the criminal defamation route to target opposition leaders and disqualify them as done with Rahul Gandhi now. This comes on top of the gross misuse of ED/CBI against the opposition. Resist and defeat such authoritarian assaults," the veteran Left leader said in a tweet.

18:28 PM

Rahul Gandhi Disqualification Live Update: 'Vindictive, Shameful', Says Priyanka Chaturvedi

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned the state of democracy in the country over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification. "Vindictive and shameful action against Rahul Gandhi. This disqualification yet again proves that we are living in the times of caged democracy," she said in a tweet.

18:20 PM

Rahul Gandhi Disqualification Live Updates: Opposition Leaders Living In State Of Emergency, Says Jharkhand CM

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the disqualification of Gandhi is a "vendetta battle" and exposed how opposition leaders are living in a state of Emergency while BJP leaders are living in "Amrit Kaal". "The disqualification of Lok Sabha membership of Shri @RahulGandhi' ji demonstrates how political differences are now vendetta battles for ruling Central Government. In today's Amrit Kaal Opposition leaders are unilateral targets of BJP, being coerced and silenced using every tool of power," he said in a series of tweets.

17:43 PM

Live Updates | 'Black Day In History Of Indian Democracy', Says Telangana CM On Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification

"Today is a Black Day in the history of Indian democracy. Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Parliament is the height of Narendra Modi's arrogance and dictatorship....This is not the time for conflicts between parties. All democrats should openly condemn the misdeeds of BJP govt to safeguard the democracy and constitutional values in the country," says BRS President and Telangana CM KC Rao.

17:40 PM

Live Update | Rahul Gandhi Says He Is Fighting For India

"I am fighting for the voice of India. I am ready to pay any cost," said Rahul Gandhi in his first reaction after disqualification as an MP.

17:36 PM

Live Update | Arvind Kejriwal Says Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification Is Shocking

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described Gandhi's disqualification as shocking. "The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha is shocking. The country is passing through very difficult times. They have kept the whole country scared. 130 crore people will have to unite against their arrogant power," he said in a tweet.

17:27 PM

Live Updates | Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Accuses Modi Govt Of Vendetta Politics

The country is witnessing politics of vendetta being spearheaded by the Modi Govt against Rahul Gandhi. It is a sheer case of retributive politics because Rahul Gandhi has been gaining popularity, especially in the wake of Bharat Jodo Yatra which was not digested by Modi Govt. This is a very cruel demonstration of an autocratic government: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress MP

17:05 PM

Live Updates | Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification BJP's Tactic To Divert Attention From Inflation, Unemployment, Says Akhilesh Yadav

Former CM of Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha is BJP's tactic to divert people's attention from issues like inflation, unemployment and an 'industrialist friend' sinking India's money. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also alleged that since the BJP came to power in UP in 2017, it took help of the government and the administration to get false cases lodged against Samajwadi Party MLAs like Azam Khan and got them disqualified from the state assembly.

16:55 PM

Rahul Gandhi Latest News Live Updates: Kerala CM terms Rahul's disqualification as 'attack on democracy'

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha as a "violent attack on democracy" by the Sangh Parivar. Gandhi was convicted and sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court on Wednesday in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark.

16:35 PM

Live Updatess | Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification: Priyanka Gandhi Lambasts BJP, Attacks PM Modi

"Narendra Modi ji, your sycophants called the son of a martyr prime minister a traitor, Mir Jafar. One of your Chief Minister raised the question that who is the father of Rahul Gandhi? Following the custom of Kashmiri Pandits, a son wears a turban after his father's death, maintaining his family's tradition, insulting the whole family and the Kashmiri Pandit community. You asked in Parliament why they don't keep the Nehru surname. But no judge gave you a sentence of two years, did not disqualify you from Parliament. Rahul ji like a true patriot questioned Adani's loot, raised questions on Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. Has your friend Gautam Adani become bigger than the country's parliament and the great people of India that you were shocked when his loot was questioned? You call my family nepotist, but let me tell you, this family cultivated India's democracy with their blood which you are trying to destroy. This family raised the voice of the people of India and fought for the truth from generations. The blood that runs in our veins has one specialty… Never bowed down in front of a coward, power-hungry dictator like you and will never bow down. Do whatever you want," said Priyanka Gandhi in a series of tweets.

16:16 PM

Live Updates | Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case Verdict Fallout: Mamata Banerjee Says Opposition Leaders Prime Target Of BJP

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerhee today criticised BJP after Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Parliament. "In PM Modi’s New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of 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," said Banerjee.

16:09 PM

Rahul Gandhi Latest News Live: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin Says RaGa's Disqualification Highly Deplorable

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin today backed Rahul Gandhi after the Congress leader was disqualified from the Lok Sabha. "It's highly deplorable & unprecedented that a leader like Thiru Rahul Gandhi is convicted for a comment which he himself said it was not made with blameworthy mind. BJP's targeting of opposition parties has now landed in trampling of democratic rights and such atrocities will see its end. I spoke with brother Rahul Gandhi and conveyed my solidarity. I'm confident that justice will win ultimately!" said Stalin on Twitter.

15:52 PM

Rahul Gandhi Disqualification Live Updates: 'Rahul Gandhi Is Voice of Country', Says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today said that Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of inflation, unemployment, corruption and violence through Bharat Jodo Yatra and instead of paying attention to the issues, the BJP government is taking repressive steps against Rahul Gandhi. "Termination of Lok Sabha membership of Shri Rahul Gandhi is another example of dictatorship. BJP should not forget that they had adopted the same method against Mrs. Indira Gandhi also and had to face the consequences. Shri Rahul Gandhi is the voice of the country and will be stronger now against this dictatorship," said Gehlot.

15:49 PM

Rahul Gandhi Latest News Live Update: 'Stunned By This Action And By Its Rapidity', Says Shashi Tharoor

Reacting on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that he was stunned by the action and its rapidity. "...within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy," said Tharoor while hitting at the ruling BJP.