Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as Lok Sabha member revoked

• Gandhi was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member on March 23.
• The Supreme Court on Friday last stayed his conviction, paving the way for restoration of his Lok Sabha membership.
• Senior Congress leaders and party workers on Monday hailed Rahul Gandhi's reinstatement.

The Lok Sabha membership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was restored on Monday. The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a notification announcing that his disqualification has been revoked and his membership restored.

Gandhi was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member on March 23 after a Gujarat court convicted him in a defamation case and sentenced him to two years in jail.

A punishment for two years and above automatically disqualifies a lawmaker.

The Supreme Court on Friday last stayed his conviction, paving the way for restoration of his Lok Sabha membership.

Congress celebrates

Senior Congress leaders and party workers on Monday hailed Rahul Gandhi's reinstatement as a Lok Sabha MP, saying it is a victory for truth and justice. As soon as the Lok Sabha membership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was restored on Monday, celebrations broke out at the AICC headquarters here with workers dancing and raising slogans in favour of Gandhi.

Reacting to the development, Congress' deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari said, "Truth has triumphed, and lies has been defeated. INDIA has won, our lion Rahul Gandhi has won, Modi Ji, your defeat has begun."

In a tweet, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, "With enormous relief, welcome the official announcement of @RahulGandhi's reinstatement. He can now resume his duties in the Lok Sabha to serve the people of India and his constituents in Wayanad. A victory for justice and for our democracy!"

BJP's next plan of action

Congress' main adversary, the Bhartiya Janta party (BJP) is gearing up to shift its strategy to attack Rahul Gandhi with a view to counter the opposition.

Talking to IANS, a top BJP leader said: "The party will not comment on the apex court verdict, but the question will now definitely be asked to Rahul Gandhi, that what are his thoughts about the Supreme Court, on which he used to make comments from the Ramlila Maidan to across the country and even to London and America, going to the extent of contempt of the apex court?"

He said that this question will be asked to Rahul Gandhi, who is excited only by the stay on conviction, that what is his thinking now on the independence of the judiciary and other constitutional institutions of the country and his continuous derogatory statements about democracy in India.

BJP will not only target Rahul Gandhi on his statements but will also attack states rules by the Congress and its allies on increasing atrocities against women in Rajasthan, scams in Chhattisgarh, violence during West Bengal panchayat elections, situation in Bihar, 'corruption' of Kejriwal government. It will also target the opposition-led alliance INDIA on the condition of the states ruled by its allies.

With text inputs from PTI and IANS