What kind of coverage in foreign media on cancellation of Lok Sabha membership of Rahul Gandhi?

Rahul Gandhi said, “That’s why earlier (Parliament proceedings) were disrupted. Now the membership has been cancelled. Please don’t get confused about it. There is a close relationship between Narendra Modi and Adani.”

Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, if a person is convicted and sentenced to two years or more, he will cease to be eligible to continue as a member of the House. Apart from this, that person cannot contest elections for the next six years.

Foreign media has also covered the issue of cancellation of Lok Sabha membership of Rahul Gandhi. The statements of the Congress, other opposition parties and the BJP have been given place in the foreign media reports.

At the same time, there is also mention of Congress’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and it has also been linked to the general elections to be held next year.

The British newspaper The Guardian has given the headline, ‘Indian opposition leader expelled from Parliament in defamation case’.

The newspaper writes that India’s opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was expelled from Parliament 24 hours after being convicted in a defamation case.

The newspaper has written that Rahul Gandhi will not go to jail immediately because he has got bail. If the High Court stays his sentence, he will again be eligible for Lok Sabha membership. After Rahul Gandhi loses his Lok Sabha membership, by-elections can also be held in his parliamentary constituency Wayanad. His political future has become bleak.

The newspaper quoted political affairs researcher Asim Ali as saying that he was surprised by the BJP’s focus on Rahul Gandhi.

He says, “I do not understand what kind of strategy this is because it can only benefit Rahul and the Congress. She (Congress) can tell that BJP is insecure of Rahul and this proves Congress’ point that the government cannot tolerate criticism of Modi.

The newspaper has written that the BJP presents Rahul Gandhi as a ‘child and inexperienced’ person, but last year’s 2200-mile journey has brought credibility and weight to his image.

At the same time, many people outside the party in India are confused as to how Rahul Gandhi was disqualified in the 2019 general election despite having criminal cases against 233 out of 539 MPs.

The American newspaper New York Times has given the headline, “By expelling Rahul Gandhi from Parliament, Modi’s allies fail a top rival.”

The newspaper has written that Rahul Gandhi had challenged PM Narendra Modi four years ago. He had described PM Modi as a Hindu nationalist leader who would end India’s multi-community tradition, which could end the country’s democracy. On Friday, Modi’s aides completed his work. The authorities have disqualified Rahul Gandhi from Parliament just a day after the court found him guilty.

General elections are going to be held in the country next year and this defamation case can implicate Rahul Gandhi and Congress in a legal battle for years.

According to the newspaper, in order to defeat the possible rivals of PM Modi, his allies have taken this most drastic step and have taken action against the voice of opposition.

PM Modi keeps reminding world leaders that India is the largest democracy on the planet. But his critics accuse him and his party of trying to turn the country’s political system into an ‘electoral dictatorship’.

Another American newspaper Washington Post writes, “India expels Modi’s critic Rahul Gandhi from Parliament.”

While reporting the cancellation of Rahul Gandhi’s membership, the newspaper has written that Rahul Gandhi considers himself the main rival of PM Modi, but his party Congress has performed poorly in the last two general elections. He has been trying to woo voters in recent months by raising the issue of corruption and accusing the Modi government of tarnishing the image of India’s democracy.

Last year, Rahul Gandhi took out a popular “Unity March” and accused the Modi government of dividing the country.

The opposition blames PM Modi’s political party (BJP) for promoting hate speech and violence against Muslims and other minorities in recent years. However, BJP denies these allegations and their supporters say that the son of a tea seller from Gujarat has improved the condition of the country.

Radio France International (RFI) has also published this news. RFI has written in its news that Rahul Gandhi was expelled from the Parliament of India the next day after being convicted in the defamation case.

RFI has said that the Modi government is accused of using the law to target and silence critics. This case of Rahul Gandhi is one of the cases registered against his main opponents in PM Modi’s home state of Gujarat.

The Congress alleges that Rahul Gandhi has to pay this price for speaking fearlessly inside and outside the Parliament. On the other hand, BJP says that Rahul Gandhi repeatedly makes such statements and thinks that he can say anything because nothing will happen against him.

RFI has written that earlier also MPs or MLAs have been disqualified in India. In 1977, in the decision of the court, the membership of Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother Indira Gandhi was cancelled.

However, in recent years, legal action has been taken against opposition leaders and organizations who have been critical of the Modi government. Rahul Gandhi is also facing two defamation and one money laundering cases.

Referring to the Aam Aadmi Party, the newspaper has written that last month its top leader has been arrested on charges of corruptly benefiting from the reforms made in the rules related to liquor license in the capital.

,ready to fight– Congress’

Qatar’s news channel Al Jazeera has given the headline, “India’s Rahul Gandhi disqualified from Parliament”.

Talking to Al Jazeera, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said that the party is “fully prepared to fight it legally and politically”. We are in the people’s court and as far as the legal option is concerned, our legal advisors are looking into it.

“Government is beginning to feel this and if not, it will soon come to know that Rahul Gandhi is not as dangerous for them in Parliament as he is on the streets of India. The public is with him.

However, BJP President JP Nadda has denied these allegations, saying that Rahul Gandhi has insulted a section of Indians who share the same surname as PM Modi.

The newspaper writes that Rahul Gandhi is the popular face of the once dominant Congress in Indian politics. He comes from India’s most famous political family and is the grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, the former Prime Minister of India. But, they have struggled to challenge Modi’s electoral juggernaut and his nationalist appeal among the country’s Hindu majority.

copy, kamlesh matheni