The gloves are off. The decision to disqualify Rahul Gandhi as Lok Sabha MP after his conviction in a defamation case has pitted the ruling BJP and the opposition against each other.
This has set the stage for an aggressive and raucous campaign for the 2024 general elections.
Action against Gandhi came even as the Parliament session has been washed out owing to slanging match between the opposition, which demanded a JPC probe into the allegations made by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research against Adani Group, and the BJP, which wanted Rahul Gandhi to apologise for his remarks abroad.
The BJP justified the action against Rahul Gandhi, saying the law is the same for everyone.
"The Surat court decision shows that democracy is intact," Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said while addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in the national capital.
The BJP argued that the OBC community was humiliated by the remark—"how come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"—made by Gandhi. "Earlier also abuses were hurled against the PM. The court has addressed that sentiment where OBC community was repeatedly disrespected."
Information and Broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur, who was also present during the press conference, claimed that there was a ‘well-planned conspiracy' within Congress to ‘get rid of’ Gandhi.
Pradhan said the country had seen how top lawyers were assigned in the case of Pawan Khera, but they didn't come to Gandhi's aid. He claimed that Gandhi wants a separate IPC. “The law is the same for everyone. If anyone disrespects marginalised and still wants that law doesn't act, then it is a sense of entitlement. We condemn this attitude.”
"Look at the irony, in 2013, prime minister Manmohan Singh had brought the ordinance, but he (Gandhi) tore it by calling it nonsense. Now, when he has become the victim of the same issue," Pradhan said.
The BJP said the party had nothing to do with the judgement.
“Even Kapil Sibal had said membership will go with the conviction; there was no provision to wait for 30 days,” Pradhan said.
Thakur said the Lok Sabha had acted according to the Lily Thomas case where it was said if the conviction is not suspended then membership was bound to go.
Pradhan said the nature of the mandate was different in 2014 and 2019. The 2019 mandate was to dismiss continuous attacks on Modi.
"Gandhi has said attack on him is attack on democracy. It is wrong to say so," the BJP leader said. “He is on bail in nine cases of defamation. He is a habitual loose canon. He thinks he can speak anything without facing the consequences.”
On a question if the opposition would come together against Modi, Pradhan said the OBC community has been humiliated. All of the opposition can be together but the country will support Modi, the minister said.
While the Congress is likely to seek legal recourse, the disqualification will have implications on opposition unity and who will be the face of the campaign.
With a year left for the 2024 election, the battle has already begun.