Noted lawyer and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal has said that Congress MP stands automatically disqualified as a Member of Parliament after his conviction by a court in Gujarat’s Surat in a criminal defamation case for his derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rahul Gandhi, who currently represents the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, now stands disqualified, as per the law, said former party leader Kapil Sibal. “If it (the court) only suspends the sentence that’s not enough. There has to be a suspension or stay of conviction. He (Rahul Gandhi) can stay on as a member of parliament only if there is a stay on the conviction,” Sibal told a private news channel.
It may be recalled that the Congress leader was convicted by a court in Gujarat over his “Why al thieves have Modi surname” jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the Surat district court. He was later granted bail, and has been given 30 days’ time to file an appeal.
Rahul Gandhi’s conviction has triggered a strong buzz on social media whether Mr Gandhi’s conviction would bar him from the Lok Sabha.