ANS: Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader and Wayanad MP, has been barred from the Lok Sabha, a day after a Surat court condemned him in a criminal defamation case.
According to a notification from the lower House signed by Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh, Rahul Gandhi is barred from serving in the Lok Sabha as of the date of his conviction, in accordance with Article 102 (1)(e) of the Constitution and Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Rahul was sentenced to two years in prison for his alleged comment during the 2019 parliamentary election campaign, “Why do all thieves have Modi surname?”
The punishment was suspended for 30 days so Rahul may appeal to a higher court. He was granted bail on bond by the court.
According to Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People (RP) Act, 1951, which governs legislator disqualification, a Member of Parliament is disqualified the moment she or he is convicted of any offence and sentenced for at least two years.
