New Delhi [India], March 30 (ANI): Germany on Thursday said that it has taken note of the verdict of the first instance of suspension from Parliament of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. “We have taken note of the verdict of first instance against the Indian opposition politician Rahul Gandhi as well as the suspension of his parliamentary mandate. To our knowledge, Mr Gandhi is in a position to appeal the verdict,” a German Foreign Ministry spokesperson said during a press briefing that was aired on German state-owned international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW).
“It will then become clear whether this verdict will stand and whether the suspension of his mandate has any basis,” the spokesperson added according to a video of the broadcast which was posted on Twitter by Richard Walkar the Chief International Editor of DW based in Berlin. Germany “expects that the standards of judicial independence and fundamental democratic principles will apply in the the case,” she said.
Earlier this week US Department of State Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said that the US is watching Rahul Gandhi‘s case in Indian courts.
“Respect for the rule of law and judicial independence is a cornerstone of any democracy, and we’re watching Mr Gandhi’s (Rahul Gandhi) case in Indian courts,” he said addressing a press briefing in Washnigton Patel, responding to a question on Rahul Gandhi‘s disqualification as an MP said that the US engages with the Indian government on a shared commitment to democratic values, including freedom of expression.”The US engages with the government of India on our shared commitment to democratic values, including of course freedom of expression in our engagements with our Indian partners,” Patel had said.
Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh on Thursday thanked Germany for “taking note” of Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from Parliament as the Lok Sabha MP. Taking to Twitter, Singh said, “Thank you German Foreign Affairs Ministry and Richard Walker for taking note of how the Democracy is being compromised in India through the persecution of Rahul Gandhi.”
Under sharp attack from the BJP, the Congress on Thursday sought to distance itself from remarks of party leader Digvijaya Singh over the German Foreign Ministry’s remarks on the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha, saying that the party firmly believes that India’s democratic processes themselves have to deal with the “threats posed to democracy”.
Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju and Anurag Thakur strongly reacted to Digvijaya Singh’s remarks. Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Indian judiciary cannot be influenced by foreign interference.
“Thank you Rahul Gandhi for inviting foreign powers for interference into India’s internal matters.
Remember, Indian Judiciary can’t be influenced by foreign interference. India won’t tolerate ‘foreign influence’ anymore because our Prime Minister is:- Shri @narendramodi Ji,” Rijiju said in a tweet over Divijaya Singh’s remarks.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said it is apparent that Congress wants foreign interference in India’s domestic affairs. “Apparent that @INCIndia wants foreign interference in our affairs. Sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Communist Party of China with opaque contents. During interactions abroad, plead for help to change the government. Thank them when help forthcoming. Any more proof needed?” she said in a tweet.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said Congress and Rahul Gandhi don’t believe to fight India’s “democratic, political and legal battle within country“
“Disgrace to nation, @INCIndia & @RahulGandhi don’t believe to fight India’s democratic, political & legal battle within country, hence, invite foreign powers to interfere in our internal matter. But New India headed by @narendramodi Ji will not tolerate any foreign intervention,” Thakur said.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday lashed out at the Congress party after party leader Digvijay Singh thanked the German Foreign Affairs Ministry for taking note of Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from Lok Sabha. The Union Minister said that it is apparent that the grand old party wants foreign interference in “our” affairs.
Referring to Digvijay Singh’s tweet, Sitharaman took to Twitter and said, “Apparent that @INCIndia wants foreign interference in our affairs. Sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Communist Party of China with opaque contents. During interactions abroad, plead for help to change government. Thank them when help forthcoming. Any more proof needed?” she added.
Digvijay Singh’s tweet stirred up a controversy after he thanked the German Foreign Affairs Ministry and Richard Walker for taking note of how Democracy is being compromised in India through the persecution of Rahul Gandhi who was recently disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha.
On March 23, Rahul Gandhi was convicted by a Surat disctrict court and sentenced to two years imprisonment in the 2019 defamation case over his ‘Modi surname’ remark made in 2019 during an election rally in Karnataka.
The criminal defamation case against Rahul Gandhi was filed by BJP MLA from Surat West Purnesh Modi.
After being convicted by the court, Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha. The sentence of two-year imprisonment has been suspended for 30 days before which Rahul Gandhi has to appeal against the conviction.
Rahul Gandhi‘s disqualification from Lok Sabha triggered a massive political row with the BJP stating that the Congress leader was “a habitual loose cannon” and the Congress alleging that he was got “deliberately disqualified”. (ANI)
