India’s top opposition leader Rahul Gandhi expelled from parliament after the verdict. The defamation conviction of Gandhi, which supporters say is politically motivated, also means he cannot run for any elections for the next six years.
The move by speaker Om Birla, an appointee and long standing member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, also means that Gandhi will be barred from contesting elections for the next six years. India is scheduled to go to polls next year in a crucial election that will determine whether Narendra Modi gets a third consecutive term as prime minister.
On Thursday, a court in Gujarat, Modi’s home state, convicted Gandhi of criminally defaming all those with the Modi last name for comments he made during the 2019 election campaign and sentenced him to two years in prison. While the sentence was suspended pending an appeal, it opened the way for Gandhi’s parliamentary expulsion.
Several members of Modi’s ruling party welcomed the speaker’s decision to disqualify Gandhi hailing it as the lawful punishment for what they describe as his derogatory remarks against all people belonging to the prime minister’s caste.Rather than an attack on Modi or corruption, BJP politicians have been portraying the remarks as “caste-ist” and insulting to India’s lower classes.
In the past few years, this provision has been used to disqualify opposition politicians as soon as they are found guilty of criminal offenses by lower courts in India. On Friday, 14 opposition parties approached the Supreme Court asking for it to urgently intervene and stop the government from misusing law enforcement agencies against political opponents.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Rahul Gandhi gets 2 years for defamation of Indian PM ModiAn Indian court has found opposition leader Rahul Gandhi guilty of defamation over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surname and sentenced him to two years in prison. The court granted Gandhi bail for 30 days to file an appeal.
Leer más »
India's Rahul Gandhi found guilty of defamation, given two-year sentence | CNNA court in western India found opposition leader Rahul Gandhi guilty of defamation on Thursday for a speech he made in 2019 in which he referred to thieves as having the surname Modi, and sentenced him two years in prison.
Leer más »
Indian court convicts Rahul Gandhi of defamation, gives two-year sentenceGandhi was given bail and the sentence suspended for 30 days.
Leer más »
Indian court orders Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail for Modi commentA court in western India found opposition leader Rahul Gandhi guilty of defamation for a speech he made in 2019 in which he referred to thieves as having the surname Modi, and sentenced him to two years in prison
Leer más »
Rahul Gandhi sentenced to 2 years in prison for defaming Indian leader ModiAn Indian court has found opposition leader Rahul Gandhi guilty of defamation over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surname.
Leer más »
Factbox: Why Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi may lose his parliament seatIndia's opposition leader Rahul Gandhi faces the risk of being immediately disqualified as a lawmaker after being convicted in a defamation case and sentenced to two years in jail.
Leer más »