Rahul Gandhi prevented the enactment of an emergency law to safeguard criminal MPs and MLAs that was proposed during the Manmohan Singh regime, but this led to his declassification as an MP today. In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that the section of the Representation of the People Act, which gave a 3-month period for the disqualification of MPs and MLAs sentenced to 2 years or more in criminal cases, should be cancelled. The then United Progressive Alliance government led by Manmohan Singh introduced an Ordinance to overrule the decision, meaning that convicted individuals could appeal within 3 months of being punished and remain in their positions until the appeal was completed. The move was seen as a way to safeguard Lalu Prasad, the leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, from facing disqualification proceedings. Both Rahul Gandhi and President Pranab Mukherjee opposed the Emergency Act and the former tore up copies of the Ordinance during a press conference. The Ordinance was subsequently withdrawn following opposition from Rahul Gandhi. Legal experts have suggested that if Rahul Gandhi had not protested at that time, he would have had an extra 3 months of protection via the Ordinance. News18 Tamil provides up-to-date global and local news, including the latest news in Tamil, which can be accessed instantly through its website. News18 Tamil Nadu TV is available on several cable and satellite TV services.
Rahul Gandhi blocked the introduction of an emergency law brought during the Manmohan Singh regime to save criminal MPs and MLAs. But that is the reason for losing his MP post today.
In 2013, the Supreme Court had ordered the cancellation of the section of the Representation of the People Act, which gave a three-month period for the disqualification of MPs and MLAs who were sentenced to 2 years and more in criminal cases. The then Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government brought in an Ordinance to invalidate the verdict.
Accordingly, the people’s representatives who have been punished by the court can appeal within 3 months from the date of the punishment and until then the concerned members can continue in office in the Ordinance.
There was criticism that the Ordinance was brought in to protect Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad from disqualification proceedings.
While Pranab Mukherjee, who was the President of the Republic, strongly opposed this Emergency Act, Rahul Gandhi also opposed it. Rahul Gandhi tore up copies of the Ordinance during a press conference.
Due to strong opposition from Rahul Gandhi, the UPA government withdrew the Ordinance. Now Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified under the same provision of Representation of People Act.
Legal experts have said that if Rahul Gandhi had not protested then, he would have got an additional 3 months through the Ordinance.
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