Rahul Gandhi conviction stayed, Congress asks Lok Sabha Speaker to reinstate him as MP

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury met Lok Sabha Speaker on August 4 and asked him to reinstate his membership since Supreme Court had stayed his conviction in a defamation case.

Gandhi was disqualified as an MP after a trial court in Gujarat awarded him a 2-year jail term.

'Gandhi was disqualified as part of a conspiracy by the ruling BJP and the Supreme Court relief to him ensures that truth shall prevail in his case,' the Congress leader told reporters.

"We have met the Lok Sabha speaker and have urged him to restore Gandhi's membership in Lok Sabha after the Supreme Court has granted him relief. We want that Rahul Gandhi should speak on the 'no-confidence motion' against the government in the Lok Sabha," he said.

Chowdhury also said that "we fear the government may create hurdles and have urged the speaker not to delay the revocation of Rahul Gandhi's disqualification".

Also watch: Rahul Gandhi's first visuals after SC stayed defamation conviction

A three-judge bench of Justices B R Gavai, P S Narasimha and Sanjay Kumar said no doubt that the utterances were not in good taste and that a person in public life is expected to exercise caution while making public speeches.

"No reason has been given by the trial judge for imposing maximum sentence, the order of conviction needs to be stayed pending final adjudication," the bench said.

Gandhi was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member following his conviction on March 23.

(with PTI inputs)