Rahul Gandhi
Credit: PTI Photo
After a gap of 136 days, top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday was back in Parliament as an MP following the Lok Sabha Secretariat revoking his disqualification from the House following the Supreme Court suspending his conviction in a defamation case.
Soon after the notification was issued at around 10:15 am, Rahul reached the Parliament to a warm welcome from Congress and I.N.D.I.A MPs, and attended the proceedings.
As Rahul sat in his allotted seat, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey levelled allegations against a news portal, saying that it took money from China to defame India and referred to the Congress leader, which was later expunged from records.
However, Union Minister Anurag Thakur lapped up the attack at a press conference where he alleged “Chinese items are being sold in Rahul Gandhi's shop of hatred”.
All eyes were on the Lok Sabha Secretariat on the time and type of action that would be taken on Rahul Gandhi's issue, with the Congress and I.N.D.I.A parties stepping up pressure and making plans to push the issue in Lok Sabha. The anxious wait ended once the Secretariat issued the notification.
Once the notification was issued, the wait was for Rahul’s arrival just before 12 noon to attend the proceedings.
Before entering the Parliament, Rahul walked to Gandhi’s Statue in the premises and paid tributes while MPs swamped to shake hands and share a “welcome back” message. In Parliament, a number of leaders from other parties, including Derek O’Brien and Sanjay Raut, also greeted Rahul.
As soon as he entered the Lok Sabha chamber, MPs chanted “I.N.D.I.A, I.N.D.I.A” while his mother and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi landed a peck on his cheek even as BJP’s Dubey levelled allegations.
Lok Sabha was adjourned soon following vociferous protests by the Opposition and counter-sloganeering by the BJP. Rahul, then along with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia, met a delegation of Congress leaders from Manipur, including former Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, at the office.
Later, he also visited the DMK office in Parliament to offer his tributes to late M Karunanidhi on his death anniversary.
The Secretariat had issued a notification disqualifying Rahul from Lok Sabha on March 24, a day after a Gujarat court convicted and sentenced him to two years' imprisonment in a defamation case. Soon after the apex court order, Congress and other I.N.D.I.A parties demanded immediate revocation of his disqualification.
Rahul also changed his bio on social media platforms, including 'X' (formerly Twitter), to 'Member of Parliament' from the earlier 'Dis'Qualified MP' description.
As the news of the new notification came, Kharge distributed sweets among leaders of the opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A during a meeting in his chamber.
In a post, Kharge said on 'X', "the decision to reinstate Rahul Gandhi as an MP is a welcome step. It brings relief to the people of India, and especially to Wayanad. Whatever time is left of their tenure, the BJP and Modi government should utilise that by concentrating on actual governance rather than denigrating democracy by targeting opposition leaders."
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal said, "democracy has won! India wins. Rahul-ji will continue his parliamentary journey by speaking the truth without any hesitation. He is the voice of India, he can never be silenced." Congress Whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore said, "Welcome decision. Conspiracy defeated. RG returns."
Tagging a video of Gandhi reaching Parliament, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi tweeted, “the voice representing the real issues of the people will once again reverberate in Parliament. Heartfelt thanks to millions of Congress workers who fought shoulder to shoulder with Rahul-ji as also crores of people of the country who supported the fight for justice and truth.”