The Congress celebration on Friday stated that the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in 2019 defamation case and subsequent disqualification as member of Lok Sabha was “no coincidence”, linking it along with his speech within the decrease home throughout the Budget session the place he attacked beleaguered billionaire Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jairam Ramesh, Congress normal secretary answerable for communications, stated the complainant, a BJP MLA, withdrew his personal petition searching for a keep on the trial court docket proceedings days after Rahul Gandhi’s speech in Lok Sabha. (Rahul Gandhi disqualified as Lok Sabha member | Follow LIVE updates here)

“9 days after Rahul Gandhi’s Adani speech in [Lok Sabha] on Feb 7th, the defamation case against him gets fast tracked by the complainant withdrawing his own stay in the [High Court] on 16th Feb. On 27th Feb arguments resume after 1 year. 17th March judgement reserved,” Ramesh tweeted. “This is no coincidence.”

In March final 12 months, the Gujarat excessive court docket granted an interim keep on the legal defamation proceedings after BJP MLA Purnesh Modi approached it difficult the decrease court docket order rejecting his utility to make the accused (Gandhi) “personally explain the contents of the CDs and/or pen drives and/or any such other electronic records” associated to his controversial speech. The excessive court docket, in an order dated February 16, vacated the keep on the proceedings towards Gandhi after the BJP MLA withdrew his utility demanding the the Congress chief’s private look within the decrease court docket.

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Congress chief and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi additionally linked the disqualification with Gandhi’s speech in Lok Sabha and listed the chronology of the case.

“Amazing alacrity & sudden change of tactics by complainant,” he stated in a tweet, which was retweeted by AAP nationwide convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, in what’s seen as a sudden shift within the dynamics of Opposition ranks.

“The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha is shocking. The country is passing through very difficult times. They have kept the whole country scared. 130 crore people will have to unite against their arrogant power,” Kejriwal earlier stated in a tweet.

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, together with a number of different Opposition events, additionally expressed robust help for Rahul Gandhi.

“In PM Modi’s New India, Opposition leaders have turn into the prime goal of BJP ! While BJP leaders with legal antecedents are inducted into the cupboard, Opposition leaders are disqualified for his or her speeches,” Banerjee tweeted.