Indias main opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was restored to parliament on Monday . The supreme court last week suspended his defamation conviction over political comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi . The yearold Congress party leader was sentenced to two years imprisonment in March in a case that critics flagged as an effort to stifle political opposition in the worlds largest democracy .
The conviction stemmed from a remark made during the election campaign when Gandhi had asked why all thieves have Modi as their common surname . His comments were portrayed as a slur against the Indian prime minister and against all those with the same surname which is associated with the lower rungs of Indias caste hierarchy .
Anyone sentenced to a custodial term of two years or more is ineligible to sit in Indias parliament forcing Gandhis expulsion from the body in March . He was turfed out of the legislature as a result but stayed out of jail while appealing the case at the Supreme Court in New Delhi .
Congress head Mallikarjun Kharge called it a welcome step and called on the government to concentrate on governance rather than denigrating democracy by targeting opposition leaders . Gandhi is the son grandson and greatgrandson of former prime ministers beginning with independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru .
Shashi Tharoor welcomed the announcement of Gandhis reinstatement with enormous relief. Gandhi is a victory of justice and for our democracy he said. ShashiTharoor said: ‘A victory of Justice and for Our democracy. A victory of the victory of our democracy’.
The Congress Party MP Shashi. Gandhi’s return to India”. Gandhi was a victory for the government’Srindones’ Back to Back to Mail Online.
