The central government on Monday sought to play down the restoration of Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership, with Parliamentary affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi saying that the decision was taken as per due legal procedure.
"Speaker made the decision today. We followed the legal process and immediately after receiving the Supreme Court's order, we restored it," Joshi told mediapersons outside the Parliament.
Responding to questions on Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership being restored, the minister denied any delay.
Joshi said that the Supreme Court order staying the Congress leader's conviction in a defamation case had come on August 4, which was a Friday, a weekend. However, Monday being a working day, the decision was immediately taken by the Speaker's office.
Congress had been keen to get Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership restored, as the party wants him to participate in the discussion on the no-confidence motion, which is set to begin from Tuesday (August 8).
Earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha membership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was restored by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, three days after the Supreme Court had stayed his conviction in a defamation case.
In an order issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat Monday, it was informed that in view of the Supreme Court order dated August 4, Gandhi's disqualification, which was ordered on March 24 this year, stands withdrawn.
The Supreme Court on August 4 had stayed Gandhi's conviction in a defamation case against him.
A Surat court had earlier found him guilty and handed him the maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment -- leading to his disqualification from the Lok Sabha.
The Gujarat High Court had refused to stay the conviction, after which Gandhi had appealed in the Supreme Court.
3 satellite townships to be developed in Tripura: CM Manik Saha
Addressing the district level workshop on the deliberations of the 4th National Conference of Chief Secretaries at Rajarshi Hall in southern Tripura’s Udaipur, the Chief Minister said that these satellite townships would be developed in a planned manner with all basic facilities.
Assam Police foils drug peddling bid; narcotics worth Rs. 30 crore seized
Assam Police foiled a major drug peddling bid and narcotics worth Rs 30 crore were seized by the security personnel, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday.
Country will prosper only when man and women enjoy equal rights: Minister Tinku Roy
The state social welfare and social education minister Tinku Roy on Tuesday chaired a daylong workshop on different schemes of his department and its execution and said that the country can prosper only if men and women enjoys equal rights.
Minister Sudhangshu Das emphasis on piggery to strengthen rural economy and generate employment opportunity
The Animal Resource Development Department minister Sudhangshu Das on Tuesday attended the state level seminar on “Pig Diseases with Special Reference to Classical Swine Fever”, held here at Agartala Rabindra Bhavan
Govt officials are driving force of Tripura’s development: CM Dr Manik Saha
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Tuesday attended the District Level Workshop on the 4th National Conference of Chief Secretaries' deliberations at Rajarshi Hall, in Udaipur and said that government is committed to implementing key takeaways for the welfare of the people of Tripura.
Youth dies after being run over by train
A tragic incident unfolded once again in the D.M. Colony area under the Teliamura Railway Police Station, where a man lost his life after being run over by a train. The deceased has been identified as Ajit Sarkar, a 36-year-old resident of the locality.
Govt aims to transform state into an education hub: CM Manik Saha
Dr. Saha said this while addressing the foundation day celebration of Lipika Dasgupta Memorial School at its premises in East Gakulnagar, Bishalgarh, Sepahijala District.
Five Bangladeshi held with fake Aadhaar cards in Udaipur
The Government Railway Police (GRP) in Udaipur, Gomati district, have detained five Bangladeshi nationals with forged Aadhaar cards after they illegally entered Tripura and attempted to travel to Gujarat in search of work.