BJP moves to disqualify Rahul

The BJP on Thursday initiated yet another process seeking to disqualify Congress MP Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha. The move came amid acrimonious exchanges between Rahul Gandhi and BJP MPs over several controversial issues, including the alleged circulation of former Army chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished book.

The party plans to move a substantive motion against the Leader of Opposition. A substantive motion is an independent, self-contained proposal submitted for the approval of a legislative house or assembly, drafted to express a decision or opinion.

This is not the first time Rahul Gandhi runs the risk of getting disqualified from Parliament as in March 2023, he was disqualified from Lok Sabha following his conviction in a defamation case against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was later reinstated as a member of the lower hosue after the Supreme Court quashed the conviction.

Lok Sabha had to adjourned for the day on Thursday following uproar by the Opposition over BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s remarks targeting the LoP. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Dubey alleged that Rahul was hand-in-glove with anti-national forces. This was the second adjournment of the Lok Sabha during the day.

Talking to media in the Parliament premises Dubey said he has given a notice to initiate a “substantive motion” against Gandhi, and demanded that his Lok Sabha membership be cancelled and he be debarred from contesting elections for life. Coming to Rahul Gandhi’s defence, Congress MP Renuka Chaudhary took swipes at Dubey as someone who wanted to become a Union minister. She added that at one point there was talk of pushing a privilege motion against her over bringing her dog to parliament grounds. “Do BJP MPs understand what a privilege motion is?” she said.

Congress MP KC Venugopal said the BJP’s double standards can be seen from how Rahul Gandhi’s remarks were removed from the proceedings, while “similar remarks” made by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were allowed to remain. “Last time, I accepted Rahul Gandhi’s membership, but the people elected him by a bigger margin than Modi. We don’t care about any notice. If you want, hang me,” Venugopal said.