The party said he was disqualified as part of a conspiracy by the ruling BJP and the SC relief to him ensures that truth shall prevail.
Published Aug 04, 2023 | 4:21 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 04, 2023 | 4:21 PM
Rahul Gandhi. (Facebook)
Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday, 4 August, urged Speaker Om Birla to restore the membership of Rahul Gandhi as the MP of Wayanad constituency in Kerala, following the Supreme Court staying his conviction in the “Modi surname” defamation case.
Chowdhury met the Speaker and urged him to take action on restoring Gandhi’s membership.
Soon after the ruling, the party workers in Wayanad started celebrating it by distributing sweets, in many parts of the hill constituency
Gandhi was disqualified as part of a conspiracy by the ruling BJP and the Supreme Court relief to him ensures that truth shall prevail in his case, the Congress leader told reporters.
“We have met the Lok Sabha Speaker and have urged him to restore Gandhi’s membership in the Lok Sabha after the Supreme Court granted him relief. We want that Rahul Gandhi should speak on the no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha,” he said.
Chowdhury also said: “We fear the government may create hurdles and have urged the Speaker not to delay the revocation of Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification.”
The Congress hailed the Supreme Court ruling, calling the judgement a strong vindication of truth and asserting that “no force can silence the voice of the people”.
A three-judge bench of Justices BR Gavai, PS Narasimha and Sanjay Kumar said: “No reason has been given by the trial judge for imposing maximum sentence, the order of conviction needs to be stayed pending final adjudication.”
Gandhi was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member following his conviction on 23 March.
The Congress described it as a “victory of love over hate”. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “The Constitution, democracy and the common people of India have won.”
सत्यमेव जयते !
सुप्रीम कोर्ट के फैसले का तहे दिल से स्वागत।
संविधान, लोकतंत्र और भारत के आम लोगों की जीत हुई।
वायनाड के नागरिकों की जीत हुई।
श्री @RahulGandhi के ख़िलाफ़ BJP की साज़िश बेनकाब हुई।
लोकतंत्र के मंदिर में फिर गूंजेगी आम जन की बुलंद आवाज़।
सत्य और साहस के प्रतीक…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 4, 2023
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said the Supreme Court judgement was a strong vindication of truth and justice.
“Despite the relentless efforts of the BJPs machinery, Rahul Gandhi has refused to bend, break or bow, choosing instead to place his faith in the judicial process,” he said on Twitter.
The Supreme Court judgment is a strong vindication of truth and justice.
Despite the relentless efforts of the BJPs machinery, @RahulGandhi has refused to bend, break or bow, choosing instead to place his faith in the judicial process.
Let this be a lesson to the BJP and its…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 4, 2023
“Let this be a lesson to the BJP and its acolytes: you can do your absolute worst but we will not back down. We will continue to expose and call out your failures as a government and as a party. We will continue to uphold our Constitutional ideals and repose faith in our institutions which you so desperately want to destroy. Satyameva Jayate!” Ramesh said.
Congress’ general secretary organisation KC Venugopal also hailed the verdict.
“We welcome the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s verdict staying Sh. @RahulGandhi ji’s conviction. Justice has prevailed. No force can silence the voice of the people,” Venugopal said on Twitter.
In a tweet in Hindi, the Congress said, “It is a victory of love over hate. Satyamev Jayate — Jai Hind
यह नफरत के खिलाफ मोहब्बत की जीत है।
सत्यमेव जयते – जय हिंद 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/wSTVU8Bymn
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 4, 2023
The Congress in Kerala also welcomed the ruling with a tweet saying, “Rahul Gandhi won, Wayanad won, and INDIA won!”
Following the ruling, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi quoted Gautam Buddha saying truth could not be hidden.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin welcomed the Supreme Court ruling, saying: “This decision reaffirms our belief in the strength of our judiciary and the importance of safeguarding democratic values.”
Justice prevails! #Wayanad retains #RahulGandhi!
Welcome the Hon'ble #SupremeCourt's decision staying the conviction of dear brother Thiru @RahulGandhi in the criminal defamation case. This decision reaffirms our belief in the strength of our judiciary and the importance of…
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 4, 2023
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol Thirumavalavan said in a tweet in Tamil, “The judiciary has exposed the Sangh Parivar and their nefarious agenda. This is a great victory for democracy.”
Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala also hailed the ruling, saying justice has prevailed.
“The roar of truth will be heard again the halls of democracy!” he said.
Congress workers in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency welcomed the Supreme Court verdict on the defamation case and expressed hope that the Lok Sabha secretariat would soon reinstate Rahul Gandhi as their MP.
Party workers distributed sweets in many parts of the hill constituency represented by Gandhi in Lok Sabha before his disqualification after his conviction in the case a few months ago.
“We’ve got our leader back (in the constituency),” a Congress worker told a TV channel, expressing his happiness over the verdict.
“Finally, Rahul Gandhi has got justice from the apex court. It’s a verdict against the BJP’s politics of vengeance,” Salih, a Congress worker, said.
Congress leader from Wayanad and MLA IC Balakrishnan, representing Sultan Batheri constituency in the state Assembly, said Gandhi had intervened in the issues of the people of Wayanad even after his disqualification as MP.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly VD Satheesan said the party has already stated that the Sangh Parivar cannot intimidate or silence it.
He said Gandhi has the backing of crores of Congress workers, and the party will continue its fight against politics of hate and fascism.
(With PTI inputs)
