The law is the law… Jaishankar on any envoy raising Rahul issue

External Affairs Minister, Dr. S Jaishankar has said that no foreign diplomat has raised with him the issue of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as Member of Parliament.

Speaking at the Rising India Summit hosted by Network18, Jaishankar said that the disqualification happened as Rahul Gandhi had refused to express regret on the disparaging remarks he had made against a community at a public meeting four years back.

"The law is the law, unless somebody thinks that the law is not for them," Jaishankar said.

The External Affairs Minister replied in the negative when asked if any foreign diplomat had raised this issue.

"Four years ago Rahul Gandhi was disparaging of a community in a public meeting. It is on public record. A member of that community took offense and began legal proceedings," Jaishankar said while asked how he would explain the issue to his counterparts abroad.

Rahul Gandhi was convicted by a court in Surat for a 2019 speech in which he had asked, "why do all thieves have Modi as their surname." He had referred to Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The court while convicting Rahul Gandhi also sentenced him to two years imprisonment, as a result of which he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha. Unless reversed by an upper court, Rahul Gandhi cannot contest an election for eight years. The lower court has kept his sentence in abeyance and allowed Rahul Gandhi thirty days time to file an appeal.

"The legal process produced an outcome. The outcome triggered a law, which Rahul Gandhi had himself supported some years ago," the Dr. Jaishankar said.

The minister also said that the same law has been applied to 10-12 elected representatives, including of a ruling party.

The Representation of People Act says that any MLA, MP or MLC awarded a criminal conviction and prison sentence of two years or more are grounds for expulsion from the House. The disqualification shall be applicable from the date of conviction and will continue for a period of six years since the release.

In the case of Rahul Gandhi, the disqualification will continue for a period of eight years-two years of imprisonment plus six years post-release. This would be applicable unless an appellate court stays the conviction or reverses it.