Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a Lok Sabha member was against the basic tenets of the Constitution and was a "condemnable" move that highlighted the curtailment of democratic values, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has said.
Mr. Gandhi, representing Wayanad Parliamentary constituency in Kerala, was on March 24 disqualified from the Lok Sabha, a day after his conviction in a defamation case by a court in Surat in Gujarat.
The court sentenced Mr. Gandhi to two years in jail in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remarks at a 2019 poll rally in Karnataka. However, the court also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.
Also read | Chilling effect: On defamation, free speech and the Rahul Gandhi case
Commenting on the development on March 24, the NCP supremo also referred to the disqualification of his party MP from Lakshadweep Mohammed Faizal P. P. following the latter's conviction in an attempt to murder case. His conviction was later suspended by the Kerala High Court.
"The disqualification of Mr. Rahul Gandhi and Mr. Faizal a few months ago as MPs of the Lok Sabha are against the basic tenets of the constitution, where democratic values are being curtailed. This is condemnable and against the very principles on which the Constitution is based," Mr. Pawar tweeted.
“Our constitution guarantees the right of each Individual to fair justice; liberty of thought; equality of status and opportunity and fraternity assuring the dignity of each Indian. #RahulGandhi,” the former Union Minister said in a series of tweets. “We all need to stand together to defend our democratic institutions,” he added.
