First person to get maximum sentence for defamation: Rahul Gandhi on disqualification as MP

In a swipe at the Centre over his recent disqualification as a member of Parliament, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi remarked that he is perhaps the first person to be handed the “maximum sentence for defamation”.

Latching onto his introduction as a member of Parliament on a visit to Stanford University in the US, Rahul Gandhi said, “I don’t think when I joined politics in 2004, I ever imagined what I see going on now in the country. I may be the first person to get a maximum sentence for defamation. I never imagined something like this is possible.”

Back in March, Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as an MP from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in compliance with the Surat trial court order, which had convicted him in a criminal defamation case and sentenced him to two years. He was granted bail in the case.

The disqualification will bar 52-year-old Gandhi, a four-time MP, from contesting polls for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.

The development escalated BJP’s confrontation with Congress and widened its arc with many others in the opposition, who have spoken out in support of the Congress leader.

However, the Gandhi scion told the gathering at Stanford that his sacking as MP has presented him with a “bigger opportunity” than sitting in Parliament, and referred to the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

“The Opposition is struggling in India. BJP has captured institutions. We are fighting it democratically. When we saw that none of the institutions were helping us, then we went out onto the roads and hence, the Bharat Jodo Yatra happened,” he said.

Asked if he was seeking foreign help to deal with the situation at home, he immediately demurred. “I am not seeking support from anybody. I am clear that our fight is our fight, but yes, there are young students from India here. And I want to communicate with them and it’s my right to do it,” Gandhi asserted.

Calling out Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said the PM should also interact with people and “answer some hard questions”.