On 25th March 2023, former Congress MP Rahul Gandhi held his first press conference after being disqualified from his Lok Sabha membership owing to his conviction in a criminal defamation case against him in a Surat court. A criminal defamation case was filed by Gujarat BJP leader Purnesh Modi after Rahul Gandhi, in an election rally in 2019, had asked why everyone with the Modi surname is a thief, mentioning Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, and Narendra Modi.
When asked whether he would apologise for his 2019 remark, Rahul Gandhi retorted arrogantly, “I am a Gandhi and not Savarkar, and Gandhis do not apologise.” It is notable that earlier he had tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for lying that the court had said ‘Chowkidar chor hai’.
Rahul Gandhi apologised for ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ jibe
On 8th May 2019, Rahul Gandhi tendered an unconditional apology in the Supreme Court for “unintentionally and inadvertently” attributing the ‘Chowkidar Chor hai’ jibe against Prime Minister Modi to the court’s order on the Rafale Review plea. On 10th April 2019, while campaigning at a rally, Rahul Gandhi stated that the Supreme Court order says, “Chowkidar Chor Hai”. BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi had filed a contempt plea against the statement on which the SC had issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi. The court had stated that it has never said so.
The SC had allowed the admissibility of three documents in their hearing of the review petitions on the Rafale verdict. Rahul Gandhi and Congress had promoted the step as a big victory against the NDA government. Rahul’s unconditional apology came after much embarrassment to his image and his party as he was made to admit he had said it in ‘the heat of campaigning’.
The Supreme Court had also objected to the affidavit submitted by Rahul Gandhi. The then CJI Ranjan Gogoi had stated during a hearing that Gandhi admitted wrongly attributing the remark but he stands by it. Later, the SC also raised an objection regarding Rahul Gandhi’s affidavits. The court had stated that ‘regret’ is not ‘apology’ and had ordered Rahul to submit an unconditional apology.
Why the Rafale review petition was filed?
It is notable that the Rafale deal which is an inter-governmental deal between the governments of India and France for 36 Rafale fighter jets in flyaway condition was in the eye of the storm for a rather long time. The opposition used this necessary defense deal to train its guns against the Narendra Modi government to insinuate a scam.
Congress-friendly career PILists like Prashant Bhushan and others filed a PIL in the Supreme Court asking the SC to intervene and order a court-monitored probe into the deal. The Supreme Court, however, dismissed the petition. The Court also heard an application for initiating perjury proceedings against officials who had allegedly misled the Court. On Thursday, 14th November 2019, the Supreme Court dismissed even the review petitions.
On 24th March 2023, comedian Kapil Sharma appeared on Kareena Kapoor Khan’s show ‘What Women Want’. Apart from answering questions regarding his recently released film ‘Zwigato’, Kapil Sharma also made some remarks about the form of comedy and the changes incorporated in the same over a period of time. Kapil Sharma, during this interaction, said that recently he was instructed by the channel that he cannot use the word ‘paagal’ (meaning mad) on his show. Kapil Sharma also remarked that by imposing such restrictions on comedy, we are moving backwards.
In this talk show, Kareena Kapoor Khan asked Kapil Sharma, “We are evolving as a society, comedy that used to be funny 10 years ago, people are now taking a lot of offense to that. So then when you write a script or sit down with your team, do you keep it in mind that we can’t make fun of such and such situation?”
Kapil Sharma answered, “Honestly it happens a lot, in the society that I come from Amritsar, Punjab it’s there in our culture that the bride’s side would tease the groom and call him out with names and joke over it. Body shaming and other things, that were in our culture but now if we do it here it’s called body shaming. When you work with GEC (General Entertainment Channel) channels, you get S&Ps (standards and practices) on words you can’t even imagine. Currently, I was told by the channel that I cannot use the word ‘paagal’. I didn’t get it and asked why? Later, they told me the reason saying, actual people who are termed with the name get offended.”
Kapil Sharma further said, “Yet, it is a word that we use casually with our children, and siblings call each other ‘paagal’ with fun. I sometimes think we’re moving backward. I recall Javed Akhtar said in an interview that he couldn’t write the moment in Sholay where Dharmendra speaks while hiding behind the statue of Lord Shiva because it would offend people.”
It is notable that Kapil Sharma’s The Kapil Sharma Show has previously been criticised for some of its body-shaming jokes. Throughout the show, he frequently makes fun of Sumona Chakravarti’s appearance and Kiku Sharda’s weight.
The Kapil Sharma Show is aired on Sony Entertainment Television and has become a hugely popular weekend comedy show since its inception in 2016. The show is hosted by Kapil Sharma and includes comedy skits by a team involving several actors and comedians, and interviews with celebrities. Filmstars are regular invitees to the show, who appear in it to promote their upcoming movies. Before The Kapil Sharma Show on Sony, Kapil Sharma had hosted Comedy Nights with Kapil on Colors, an almost similar show.
Two days after freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, a journalist, freedom fighter, and Congress leader was killed by a rioting mob in Kanpur on March 25, 1931. A champion of freedom and justice who bravely perished in 1931 at the age of 41 while trying to stop communal violence and save Hindus from a violent mob.
Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi was one of the understated icons of India’s freedom struggle and a rebel in his own right. Born on October 26, 1890, in a typical Indian household in Attarsuiya, Allahabad (now Prayagraj), he became an important figure in the non-cooperation movement. Vidyarthi’s father, a middle school teacher, homeschooled him as he was raised in a poor family. Vidyarthi was compelled by poverty to work as a clerk before being hired as a teacher in Kanpur, although his true passion was journalism.
A deeply religious person, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi was much influenced by the fiery articles of popular journals of the time, Swarajya and Karmayogi. He also contributed articles to these journals. It is said that he adopted the ‘Vidyarthi’ pen name around 1910.
In 1913, Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi, a prominent Hindi writer and editor at his famous literary monthly, ‘Saraswati’ offered Vidyarthi a job as a sub-editor. However, it is said that Vidyarthi who was keener on politics and current affairs went on to join ‘Abhyudaya’, another popular newspaper.
Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi returned to Kanpur in 1913 and started his own revolutionary weekly journal ‘Pratap’ with the help of his aides Shiv Narayan Mishra, Narayan Prasad Arora, and Yashodanandan. Through his writings, Vidyarthi raised the voice of the oppressed people of his time.
Vidyarthi dedicated himself to the national movement after meeting Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in Lucknow in 1916. In addition to participating in the 1917-18 Home Rule movement, Vidyarthi also led the first textile workers’ strike in Kanpur.
During this time, he also was arrested on multiple occasions, be it for his articles in support of Kanpur mill workers, Rae Bareilly peasants, or for his political activities. It is notable that Vidyarthi was a prominent Congress leader during this time and also served as a member of the United Provinces Legislative council from 1925-1929.
In 1920, Vidyarthi launched the daily edition of Pratap named Dainik Pratap and it was in this year that he was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for championing the cause of the peasants of Rae Bareli. After being freed in 1922, he was almost immediately imprisoned again for delivering a “seditious” speech at the Provincial Political Conference in Fatehgarh. Vidyarthi met and protested with Bhagat Singh in 1924, and the two became close friends and colleagues. It is interesting to note that Vidyarthi met Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt in prison. Moreover, Vidyarthi covered their 63-day-long historic hunger strike. Using the pen name ‘Balwant Singh,’ Bhagat Singh used to write thought-provoking pieces for Vidyarthi’s Pratap.
Front page of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi’s Dainik Pratap (Image via News18)
When Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi led a demonstration at the Moolganj Mosque
At Kanpur in 1927, some Muslims attacked a band that was playing music while a Hindu wedding procession passed by. The city’s notable Congress leaders including Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, Narayan Prasad Arora, G. G. Jog, and Bir Bahadur Tiwari led a group of Party volunteers who played music in retaliation for forty minutes in front of the Moolganj mosque.
Excerpt from The Politics of the Urban Poor in Early Twentieth-Century India by Nandini Gooptu (Page: 293)
Kanpur riots 1931 and the death of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi
The infamous Kanpur riots erupted on March 24, 1931, and lasted for six days till March 30, 1931, claiming over 400 lives. The riots erupted after Muslims opposed the demand of Hindus to call for a ‘Hartal’ against the hanging of martyr Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev by the British colonialists. However, several Muslim shopkeepers refused to close their shops and also objected to the demonstrators asking for the closure of their shops. In the Cawnpore Riots Inquiry Committee Report (1931), the ‘attitude’ of the Congress Committee and the actions of its prominent men led to the outbreak of communal riots.
Excerpt from Cawnpore Riots Inquiry Committee Report (1931) (Image via National Archives)
Vidyarthi, who was preparing to attend the Karachi session of Congress, decided not to leave Kanpur and rather help people in the riot-hit areas. Even the Cawnpore Riots Inquiry Committee Report mentions multiple times how Vidyarthi showed exemplary courage and became a true ambassador of communal harmony as he rescued locals belonging to both Hindu and Muslim communities. However, Vidyarthi was attacked with sharp weapons and killed by a murderous Islamist mob. It has also been reported that a temple was also set ablaze during the riots.
Vimla Vidyarthi, the daughter of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi had in an interview reportedly said that the killing of her father was a “part of the conspiracy which hurried the execution of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.”
In a book titled ‘Yug Purush Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi’ accounts of a few eyewitnesses have been mentioned. An eyewitness named Ganpat Singh, describing the events on the fateful day of March 25, 1931, stated that at Kanpur’s Chaubegola area around 4-5 pm, a group of Muslims from Bakarmandi arrived at the ‘nai sadak’, meanwhile a Muslim shouted -He is Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, kill him! Don’t let him go!
Another eyewitness, Madho Rao, who was with Vidyarthi till the end told the Inquiry Committee that on March 25, 1931, at around 3 or 4 pm at Chaubeygola, the place near a mosque on Meston Road, a large crowd had gathered requesting Vidyarthi to give a speech. “There were two hundred Musalmans. Chunni Khan and some other prominent Musalmans shook hands with him and embraced him.” From Chaubeygola, Vidyarthi was taken to another ‘troubled spot’ and was left alone to face the Muslim mob.
“It was there that some people started attacking him with lathis. At the instance of one Muslim volunteer, he was spared as he had saved hundreds of Muslims. But soon after, another group attacked him. When some people started dragging him to a nearby lane, he said that he won’t run away as he had to die one day, he would prefer to die while doing his duty. But his noble words had no effect on the murderous mob which attacked him from all sides. One of Vidyarthi’s companions died on the spot. Another volunteer was stabbed with a knife. Lastly came his turn and as the mob approached him, he bowed his head down only to be killed. He was stabbed in the back and another man attacked him with a khanta (an axe),” eyewitness Ganpat Singh told Enquiry Committee, as mentioned in Dr. M.L. Bhargava authored bookBuilders Of Modern India-Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi (Page:143).
M.L. Bhargava further writes that Vdyarthi’s decomposing corpse was found two days later, stuffed inside a gunny bag at the hospital. Despite having a severely disfigured face, he could be recognized due to his prominent white khadi attire. The three letters he had written on the fateful morning of March 25 were found in his pocket and served as additional evidence of his identification (Page: 144).
Before getting slain, Vidyarthi rescued many Muslims and Hindus from the violent mob, it is said that Vidyarthi was killed by a Muslim mob when he returned to rescue some Hindus stranded in the riot-stricken zone. It is said that even during his last moments, he was trying to convince the rioters not to kill innocent people. Vimla Vidyarthi in an interview with Suresh Salil, a noted poet, and translator, who is also accredited with editing and compiling the works of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, had said, “Her father had successfully rescued some Muslim women but then immediately got involved in rescuing some trapped Hindus, and at this stage, he got attacked and killed.”
Following Rahul Gandhi’s exclusion from the Lok Sabha, the Congress has chosen to appeal his conviction in the ‘Modi surname’ defamation case. According to reports, the party will most likely approach the Sessions Court in Surat next week, on either Monday or Tuesday, in relation to the defamation case in which the former party president has been convicted.
The verdict convicting Rahul Gandhi and sentencing him to two years in jail was delivered by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate of the Surat Civil court, and the Surat District and Sessions court is the next court in the hierarchy, located in the same court complex.
In order to challenge the Surat Civil Court’s decision to convict the Gandhi scion for his ‘Modi surname’ statement, the party would follow the proper procedure and file a case in the Sessions Court. Notably, Rahul Gandhi was removed from the Lok Sabha on Friday after the Surat court’s ruling.
After the decision was pronounced, Jairam Ramesh, general secretary of Congress, declared that the party will fight ‘both legally and politically.’
We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Instead of a JPC into the PM-linked Adani MahaMegaScam, @RahulGandhi stands disqualified. Indian Democracy Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/d8GmZjUqd5
The Congress on Friday called for strengthening the opposition unity in a systematic way and organised nationwide protests against Rahul Gandhi’s exclusion from the Lok Sabha. The party claimed that the government rushed swiftly to ‘gag’ their leader.
Senior Congress leaders, including former All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief Sonia Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K. C. Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Rajiv Shukla and Tariq Anwar, and senior leaders P. Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, Mukul Wasnik, Salman Khurshid and Pawan Kumar Bansal among others attended the meeting where the party decided to take this forward into a ‘Jan Andolan.’
#WATCH | Congress leaders meet at AICC in Delhi over Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as MP and the party’s demand for JPC probe on the Adani issue pic.twitter.com/0XSy2JlPTm
Jairam Ramesh stated, “We will go all over the country as Rahul Gandhi was deliberately disqualified for raising his voice against the Modi government on the Adani issue, on the government’s foreign policy and the clean chit given to China for incursions at the border.” Ramesh alleged, that the BJP was rattled by the success of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra,’ which, he claimed, became a movement.
He underlined that “we should now take the topic of opposition unity forward in a systematic fashion,” adding that the Congress leadership has welcomed the statements of support from the opposition leaders. “The action taken unilaterally and hastily to disqualify Rahul Gandhi,” he continued, “was criticised by several opposition parties.”
“Yes, there was a consensus that we should now take the job of building opposition unity in a systematic way. Everyday Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has been meeting floor leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. So we are coordinating in Parliament and now coordination has to be outside Parliament,” the Gandhi loyalist mentioned.
He conveyed, “It is also heartening to note that parties which were not part of this floor coordination have now issued public statements condemning this action of disqualification of Rahul Gandhi.”
The country-wide agitation will start on Monday, and state units and frontal organisations of the Congress will implement their national programmes.
“We will go all over the country saying that Rahul Gandhi has been deliberately disqualified as he has been raising his voice against the Modi government on various issues, including demonetisation, GST, foreign policy, and the government’s intentions and policies,” he informed.
“Nine days after Gandhi’s Adani address in the Lok Sabha on February 7, the complainant expedited his defamation lawsuit against him, and on February 16, he withdrew his own stay in the high court,” the Congress stalwart urged people to ‘understand the chronology.’
He explained that the judgement was reserved on March 17, the arguments were resumed on February 27 after a year, and the decision was announced on March 23. “This is no coincidence,” he remarked.
He also tweeted, ‘Mother is weeping today at the murder of democracy in India.’
The Prime Minister is using G20 to proclaim to the world that India is the Mother of Democracy. That Mother is weeping today at the Murder of Democracy in India.
Hours after Rahul Gandhi was disqualified on Friday, prominent party leader and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi voiced optimism about obtaining a stay over the former’s conviction. “We are confident that we will get a stay of the conviction which will remove the very basis of this disqualification. We have full faith in the law. We believe we will emerge victorious in the near future,” he proclaimed.
Many opposition leaders including the Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and his counterpart in West Bengal and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson Mamta Banerjee came in support of Rahul Gandhi after the latter’s disqualification from Lok Sabha.
Bihar police have started taking strong actions against activists of Hindu organisations after a complaint was made regarding the ‘Hindu Rashtra’ flags that had been erected in the district of Darbhanga in Bihar. Rajeev Prakash Madhukar, a leader of the ‘Vishwa Hindu Parishad’ (VHP), has been arrested in this regard. He is VHP’s Darbhanga district secretary.
The police had registered an FIR in the case after a complaint was filed by Nazre Alam, the national president of an organisation named All India Muslim Bedari Karwan.
The VHP leader is said to have been summoned to the Peace Committee meeting, where he was then arrested. Sanjay Saraogi, local BJP MLA, condemned the police action and said that the Bihar administration detests the word ‘Hindu.’ He conveyed that initiatives are being taken to appease members of a specific community.
बिहार सरकार को हिंदू शब्द से घृणा हो गई है। ये लोग एक विशेष समुदाय को प्रसन्न करने में लगे हुए है। दरभंगा की बहुसंख्यक आबादी इस बात को किसी हालत में बर्दाश्त नहीं करेगी…. ये सरकार और प्रशासन को चेतावनी है…. pic.twitter.com/mCxbZOWrDg
He went on to ask if ‘Hinduism’ was a bad religion and added, “what would be wrong if India turned into a ‘Hindu Rashtra’.” He also maintained that many great leaders have expressed the same desire.
The authorities have been stringent on social media and forbidden people from making any sort of derogatory posts in this matter. Additionally, the Darbhanga Police has also published a list of limitations in several respects.
दिनांक 24.03.23 को दरभंगा जिला अंतर्गत रामनवमी पूजा एवं चैती छठ पूजा के सुभ अबसर पर अंबेडकर सभागार में जिला पदाधिकारी महोदय एवं वरीय पुलिस अधीक्षक महोदय के द्वारा बैठक किया गया जिसमें निम्नांकित निर्देश दिया गया ।#Biharpolicepic.twitter.com/srP1u4o4j2
These regulations include things like a 75 DB sound limit for DJs, a ban on new processions, identification requirements for procession leaders, and flag marches by police officials.
Opposition by the VHP
The Hindu organisation opposed this measure and charged the Bihar government with supporting jihadi elements. The outfit’s national spokesperson, Vinod Bansal, spoke with Opindia on the issue. He claimed that rather than eliminating the Popular Front of India (PFI) network that had roots in the state, the Bihar police and government were arresting nationalists.
He lambasted the Bihar government, particularly some of its officials, for appeasing Muslims. He stated that his demand is for the FIR to be withdrawn and for the activists to be released with dignity. He continued that according to the information we received, this unilateral behaviour is infuriating the Hindu community.
Background of the case
Following the discovery of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ banners at a few sites in Laheriasarai city in Bihar’s Darbhanga on Thursday, March 23, the Darbhanga Police filed an FIR against four named and one hundred unnamed accused individuals. Two saffron flags with the phrase ‘Hindu Rashtra’ printed on them were spotted close to a Durga Temple in the Maulaganj area in the city.
‘Hindu Rashtra’ flags come up in Darbhanga, Bihar Police removes them and registers FIR after complaint by All India Muslim Bedari Karwan.
A section of people stated that the action offended their religious sensibilities. The police were made aware of the situation, and an inquiry was launched. The banner was deemed inappropriate and disruptive of social harmony by the police. According to them, one suspect has been taken into custody and is being questioned.
After the ‘Hindu Rashtra’ flags went viral on social media, Nazre Alam, who is the national president of a non-profit organisation named All India Muslim Bedari Karwan, wrote to the District Magistrate seeking action against those who allegedly attempted to disrupt the communal harmony in the area.
In his letter, Alam accused Bajrang Dal of placing Hindu Rashtra banners and also claimed that Hindus and Muslims have been peacefully residing in Darbhanga for centuries, however, if such banners will be put up to hurt the sentiments of the ‘other community’ then neither Bihar nor India will be able to progress. He also added that demanding Hindu Rashtra in a democratic country like India comes under the category of a criminal offence.
On Friday, 24th March 2023, Karnataka’s senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah slapped one of his supporters in Bengaluru. The incident took place at his residence when many of his supporters had come there to meet him.
In the viral video, it is seen that the former chief minister of Karnataka is surrounded by people outside his residence. At this time, one of his supporters comes ahead from the crowd to meet him. Siddaramaiah is seen slapping that supporter. He slapped his supporter so hard that its sound is clearly heard in the viral video.
#WATCH | LoP and former #Karnataka CM #Siddaramaiah slaps a supporter who came to meet him at his residence in Bengaluru earlier today
This is not the first time that Siddaramaiah has humiliated his own supporters in this manner. Earlier, on 4th September 2019, he slapped his follower at Mysore airport. It was seen in the video that Siddaramaiah’s supporter moved forward to shake hands with him when he went to the airport. But instead of shaking hands, Siddaramaiah gave him a tight slap. When the video of this incident went viral, people called him to be arrogant.
This time in the Karnataka assembly elections, Siddaramaiah will contest from the Varuna constituency. His name appeared in the first list of candidates released by Congress.
Congress party announces the first list of 124 candidates for Karnataka Assembly Elections.
Names of former CM Siddaramaiah, and State party president DK Shivakumar are present in the first list. pic.twitter.com/TC9vXJfrX5
Siddaramaiah is known for his anti-Modi remarks which he keeps making once in a while. He even went on to compare Narendra Modi with Hitler on Sunday, 22nd January 2023. Siddaramaiah said, “He is the Prime Minister, let him come. We don’t have any problems. However, if he says a hundred times that the BJP will come to power, I will make it clear that will not happen. People will not believe it, but what happened to Hitler? For a few days, he walked around pompously. What became of Mussolini and Franco? He (PM Modi) will also walk around like this for a few days.”
On Thursday, March 23, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years of imprisonment by the Surat District Court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his derogatory comments against the people with the ‘Modi’ surname. Following his conviction, the Wayanad MP has disqualified from Lok Sabha under section 8(3) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951.
Ever since his disqualification, Congress leaders have been accusing the central government of suppressing Rahul Gandhi’s voice. In this line, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared the coverage of Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification by the foreign media outlets Guardian Australia, Spanish Telemundo, Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine, Saudi Arabia’s Ashraq News, France’s RFI, CNN Brasil and tried to insinuate that the Congress scion’s disqualification was somehow done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Truth has an odd quality. The more you suppress it, the even more powerfully it comes out. Well done Mr. Modi,” Shrinate tweeted in Hindi.
Shashi Tharoor commented on the way that news of Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha was covered by the foreign media, saying that while the BJP tried to silence a voice, the voice of India is now heard by every corner of the world.
“They tried to silence a voice. Now every corner of the world hears the voice of India,” Tharoor tweeted.
They tried to silence a voice. Now every corner of the world hears the voice of India. pic.twitter.com/HQ71nLwxW0
Interestingly, it seems like a part of the Congress party’s social media activity as many congress affiliated Twitter handles have been sharing the same image compilation of the foreign media reports on Gandhi’s disqualification and hailing him as the ‘voice of India’. Here are some of the tweets posted by various Congress Sevadal Twitter handles.
— Jammu and Kashmir Congress Sevadal (@SevadalJK) March 25, 2023
Indian media ignores, International media condemns. They tried to silence a voice. Now every corner of the world hears the voice of India. pic.twitter.com/K5vfiHegJT
— Nagarkurnool Congress Sevadal (@SevadalNGKL) March 25, 2023
It is pertinent to note that the same Congress party that was defending Rahul Gandhi’s statements during his controversial London visit wherein sought foreign intervention in India’s matters. Rahul Gandhi had urged the US and Europe to intervene to “restore” democracy in India. Rahul claimed that Europe and the US are not doing enough to restore democracy in India as they are getting trade and money from the country.
Recently, during an interview with India Today, Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda bluntly denied Gandhi sought western countries’ intervention in India’s matters. Pitroda said, “This is our challenge, and we will deal with it”, is what Gandhi had said. When Sardesai asked about his comment that countries like the US and the UK are not doing anything about the situation of democracy in India, Pitroda claimed that India’s democracy is not just a matter of India but of the whole world. “It is not about Hindustan but Manavta”, he added.
Despite denying that Rahul Gandhi was seeking foreign intervention in India’s local political affairs, the Congress is flaunting the foreign media coverage of Rahul Gandhi’s recent conviction and disqualification.
While the Congress leaders and some foreign media outlets tried to paint Rahul Gandhi as a victim of some political measure, it was an automatic outcome of the judicial process and a law that was ironically placed by their own party.
The conviction
Rahul Gandhi was handed a two-year jail term on Thursday, March 23 as in a criminal defamation case from 2019. Purnesh Modi, a former Gujarat minister and member of the BJP, brought suit against Gandhi over his comments about the “Modi surname.” The judge later granted bail to the Congress leader, and the decision was postponed for 30 days so that Gandhi could appeal to a higher court.
Addressing a Lok Sabha election rally in Karnataka’s Kolar on April 13, 2019, Rahul Gandhi had said, “Why all the thieves, be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi or Narendra Modi, have Modi in their names.”
When delivering the ruling, the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Surat, Harsh Hasmukhbhai Varma, stated that Rahul Gandhi’s public conduct had not changed despite the Supreme Court’s warning to exercise caution and that he had made defamatory remarks. Since he is a member of parliament, strict punishment is required.
The disqualification
Following his conviction, Rahul Gandhi was automatically disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP under section 8(3) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951. On Friday, the Lok Sabha secretariat notified the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the lower House of parliament.
Notification issued by Lok Sabha Secretriat
It is notable that the Representation of Peoples Act earlier had a provision under section 8(4) which had said that if the convicted lawmaker appeals against the conviction, such a lawmaker will not be disqualified. But the Supreme Court of India had struck down this provision in the Lily Thomas v. Union Bank of India case in 2013.
The UPA-II government at that time had tried to overturn this judgment by bringing an amendment, and an ordinance was also issued to make it applicable immediately.
However, Rahul Gandhi himself had objected to this amendment, called it nonsense, and had on September 28, 2013, trashed it in front of the media. The amendment was withdrawn after this public humiliation of the government by its own leader.
A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi got disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Giriraj Singh claimed on Saturday that the leader had been cursed by Former Minister of Railways of India, Lalu Prasad Yadav.
“Lalu Prasad’s membership was set to be revoked when the order in the fodder scandal arrived. Laluji wanted to meet Rahul but he did not meet him at that time. The ordinance related to the right of appeal in this situation was subsequently torn up by Rahul. Rahul had been cursed by Lalu ji then who said- whatever you have done to me, will happen to you too,” said Giriraj Singh.
Giriraj Singh further slammed Rahul Gandhi by saying that he comes from such a big family and does not know and understand that no one is greater than the law. He also demanded that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should also apologize before the court. “This whole country is a family of PM Narendra Modi. While abusing PM Narendra Modi, you abuse his community in the country,” he said. The Minister also highlighted that Gandhi failed to apologize in court on Thursday.
In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that if an MP or MLA receives a term of two years or more, his membership shall expire immediately. The court had struck down section 8(4) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, which had said that if which said that if a convicted lawmaker appeals the conviction at a higher court within 3 months of the conviction, such a lawmaker will not be disqualified.
Dr Mannmohan Singh led UPA-II government at that time had tried to overturn the Supreme Court judgement by bringing an amendment, and an ordinance was also issued to make it applicable immediately. But it was Rahul Gandhi who had prevented this move. He had openly trashed the amendment, calling it ‘total nonsense’.
On 24 September 2013, the Congress party had called a press conference to highlight the merits of the ordinance. However, Gandhi arrived at the same press conference and said that the said ordinance was rubbish and should be torn and thrown away. The amendment was withdrawn after this public humiliation of the Manmohan Singh government by its own leader.
RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav could not contest elections after his conviction in multiple cases because the exemption granted under section 8(4) of the RPA was revoked the Supreme Court, and while the UPA govt had tried to overrule that, Rahul Gandhi had trashed that attempt, earning brownie points.
The Congress cried foul as Rahul Gandhi got disqualified after he was convicted by the Surat Court for defaming the ‘Modi surname. While Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that her brother was deliberately being targeted for raising the Adani issue.
Congress General Secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh claimed that the Indian democracy was dead. “We will fight this battle both legally and politically. We are not going to be afraid or silent. Instead of the JPC, Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified in the Adani scam related to the Prime Minister. Indian Democracy Om Shanti,” he tweeted.
हम कानूनी और राजनीतिक दोनों तरह से इस लड़ाई को लड़ेंगे। हम डरने या चुप रहने वाले नहीं हैं। प्रधानमंत्री से जुड़े अडानी महाघोटाले में JPC के बजाय राहुल गांधी को अयोग्य करार दिया गया है। भारतीय लोकतंत्र ओम शांति।
He also said that 9 days after Rahul Gandhi’s Adani speech in LS on Feb 7, the defamation case against him was deliberately fast-tracked by the complainant withdrawing his stay in the High Court on February 16. “On February 27 arguments resumed after one year. and the judgment was reserved on March 17. This is no coincidence,” he added.
9 days after @RahulGandhi‘s Adani speech in LS on Feb 7th, the defamation case against him gets fast tracked by the complainant withdrawing his own stay in the HC on 16th Feb. On 27th Feb arguments resume after 1 year. 17th March judgement reserved.
The Congress leaders also led a protest march in Delhi condemning the action against Rahul Gandhi. However, the leaders were detained by the Police. As per the reports, the Youth Congress is slated to hold several demonstrations across the country today. Apart from this, Congress has announced to start the ‘Save the Constitution’ movement across the country from Monday.
Rahul Gandhi meanwhile who was preparing for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is slated to hold a press conference at the party headquarter at 1 pm on Saturday. As per the reports, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel will accompany him.
A day after he was disqualified from Lok Sabha following his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held a press conference today (March 25) at 1 pm, where he raked up his usual, over-used Adani-Modi rhetorics to claim that BJP has orchestrated this entire farce of his conviction and subsequent disqualification from the lower house to distract the people of India from the ‘real’ issue. The press conference was held at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, where he was accompanied by Jairam Ramesh, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Abhishek Singhvi and K C Venugopal.
Taking a dig at the central government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised the Adani issue and asked who’s money is in Adani-owned shell companies. “This is the whole drama that is been orchestrated to defend the Prime Minister from the simple question- Who’s Rs 20,000 crore went to Adani’s shell companies? I am not scared of these threats, disqualifications or prison sentences,” he added.
“I can see it in his eyes,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, as he claimed that PM Narendra Modi is scared of his next speech on Adani which is why he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who refused to answer whether he is remorseful of the remark he made on Modi’s surname in 2019, which led to his conviction and subsequent disqualification, continued to rant and rave against the businessman and his relationship with PM Modi.
He said that he will not stop and keep questioning the relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Adani. “My speech made in Parliament was expunged, and later I wrote a detailed reply to the Lok Sabha Speaker. Some ministers lied about me, that I sought help from foreign powers. But there is no such thing I have done. I will not stop asking questions, I will keep questioning the relationship between PM Modi and Adani,” Gandhi added.
Rahul Gandhi humiliates and mocks journalists asking about his conviction
The press conference had been largely one-sided, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the government of silencing him over the Adani issue. However, when some reporters posed some probing questions concerning his defamation conviction which led to his expulsion, the Gandhi scion was spotted losing his mind.
When a journalist asked Rahul Gandhi about Congress CMs welcoming Gautam Adani and his investments in their states, Rahul Gandhi snapped at the journalist and warned him against ‘diverting the topic.’ Clearly ignoring the question posed to him, Rahul Gandhi went on to again accuse the Modi government of being hands-in-gloves with industrialist Gautam Adani.
At one point again, the Gandhi scion was seen losing his cool at another journalist who questioned him about his conviction in the ‘Modi surname’ case, adding that BJP has alleged that the remark was nothing short of an insult to the OBC and the socially oppressed classes of the country.
“Aap itne directly BJP ke liye kyun kaam kar rahe ho, thoda discretion se karo yaar. Thoda ghoom ghaam kar poocho. (How is it that you are so openly working from BJP, do it with some discretion. Don’t pose such direct questions, be diplomatic), he said.
“If you want to work for the BJP, bring a BJP symbol and wear it on your chest,” Rahul lambasted. “Don’t pretend to be a pressman…Kyun hawa nikal gayi?” he further mocked the journalist.
#WATCH | “Don’t pretend to be a pressman…Kyun hawa nikal gayi?”, says Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to a journalist questioning him on his conviction in ‘Modi surname’ case pic.twitter.com/SdaaUeraoy
While Rahul Gandhi continued his attempts to establish a relationship between the businessman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, journalist Rajdeep Sardesai attempted to interject, but the Gandhi scion coldly refused. He also said that Rajdeep Sardesai speaks for himself sometimes. “Please let me finish Rajdeep, unless you want to answer it for me, which you do sometimes,” he remarked.
Even Rahul Gandhi acknowledges that Rajdeep answers for him just like a Congress’ Spokesperson
When asked whether he would apologise for his 2019 remark, Rahul Gandhi retorted arrogantly, “I am a Gandhi and not Savarkar and Gandhis do not apologise.” It is notable that earlier he had tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for lying that the court had said ‘Chowkidar chor hain’.
Towards the end of the presser, Rahul Gandhi added that even if he is disqualified permanently, he will keep doing his work. “It does not matter if I am inside the Parliament or not. I will keep fighting for the country,” said Rahul Gandhi.
The press conference was held on the heels of Rahul Gandhi’s expulsion as a Lok Sabha member following his conviction and sentencing in the 2019 case.
The Background of the Case
On Thursday (March 23), Rahul Gandhi was convicted and sentenced to two years in jail by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate in Surat for his defamatory comments against people with the ‘Modi surname’ in a speech in 2019.
A criminal defamation case was filed by Gujarat BJP leader Purnesh Modi after Rahul Gandhi in an election rally had asked why everyone with the Modi surname is a thief, mentioning Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Narendra Modi.
Apart from the current disqualification, Rahul Gandhi will also not be able to contest the next general election, and also perhaps the 2029 elections, if the conviction is not overturned by a higher court. According to the law, the disqualification will continue for six years after release from jail.
Despite various CCTV videos verifying the fugitive pro-Khalistani separatist leader’s movements, Punjab police have been unable to apprehend Amritpal Singh. Eight days on, as he still remains untraceable, a new CCTV footage has emerged which shows him walking in the streets of Patiala, Punjab. While some medis houses have reported that the CCTV footage is believed to have been recorded on March 20, some say that it was likely from March 19. Amritpal was said to be hiding at a relative’s house there.
Watch | New Video From Punjab’s Patiala Shows Amritpal Singh In Jacket, Goggles pic.twitter.com/TDRL80ATzU
In the video, the absconding ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief can be seen donning a maroon turban, a pair of sunglasses and a jacket. He was captured taking a walk on the streets carrying a bag as he covered his face with a white cloth.
NDTV has quoted sources as saying that videos revealed he left for Kurukshetra in Haryana from Amritsar and was headed for the national capital. He allegedly disembarked as a monk at a bus terminal yesterday. Since this morning, Delhi police have been on high alert as the Waris Punjab De leader is suspected to have entered the national capital. Teams of Delhi and Punjab police have been analysing CCTV video at the Inter State Bus Terminal near Delhi’s Kashmere Gate.
Police continue to nab aides of Amritpal Singh from various states
Meanwhile, the Jammu police have detained one Amrik Singh from the RS Pura area of Jammu. He had reportedly been in touch with Amritpal before March 18.
Furthermore, the NIA detained a lady in Dehradun who is an aide to Amritpal for questioning, according to News18. For a long time, the woman was associated with Amritpal’s campaign.
Police suspect Amritpal Singh stayed in Haryana’s Shahbad area based on CCTV footage
Prior to this, the last CCTV footage that emerged on March 23, showed the last location of the fugitive pro-Khalistani leader in Haryana’s Shahbad area. The CCTV footage showed a man walking with an umbrella, who was suspected to be Amritpal Singh. The footage was from Sidhartha Colony in Shahbad Markanda, Kurukshetra.
The police had suspected that Amritpal crossed over to Haryana after escaping Punjab, where he took shelter in a lady’s house in Shahbad on the intervening night of March 19-20.
Baljeet Kaur, the woman who sheltered Amritpal Singh and his aide Papalpreet Singh at her house in Haryana’s Kurukshetra, was arrested.
Punjab police release pictures of the fugitive pro-Khalistani leader in different attires seeking help to identify him
On Tuesday, March 21, the Punjab police, which has been desperately searching for pro-Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh, released his few photographs in different attires and sought help to identify him.
Punjab Police releases a few pictures of ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh.
“There are several pictures of Amritpal Singh in different attires. We are releasing all of these pictures. I request you display them so that people can help us to arrest him in this case,” says… pic.twitter.com/wh7gNb4BUA
“There are several pictures of Amritpal Singh in different attires. We are releasing all of these pictures. I request you display them so that people can help us to arrest him in this case,” says Punjab IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill.
