Opposition leader disqualified from parliament after two-year jail sentence


Briefly: India’s parliament has disqualified Rahul Gandhi, the leader of India’s main opposition party, after he was sentenced to two years in jail for an insult involving Indian Prime Minister Modi. Or, rather, Modi’s surname.

The insult in question: Back in 2019, Gandhi pondered why “all thieves have Modi as [their] common surname”. A fellow MP (also named Modi) filed the defamation case against Gandhi, who has vowed to fight the court’s decision.

A stunning 43% of MPs elected in 2019 have criminal cases against them, many of which are clearly political in nature. But the length and timing of Gandhi’s sentence raises more eyebrows than a Botox technician: it’s just long enough to trigger Gandhi’s disqualification from parliament, and just ahead of next year’s elections.

Intrigue’s take: The ultra-popular Modi has little to fear from Gandhi or any other opposition leader right now. But Gandhi has already made headlines in an attempt to walk (literally) his way back into political power. And there’s nothing like an unjust jail sentence to generate a bit more voter sympathy.

These sorts of cases also put the West in a bind: wanting to partner with India to balance China, but getting these periodic reminders that India doesn’t always see the world in the same way.

Also worth noting:

  • Prime Minister Modi enjoys an approval rating of 78%, one of the highest in the world.
  • Some have accused Modi of attempting to “[impair] freedom of expression and freedom of association”.
Latest Author Articles
COP28 off to a solid start

Just as our co-founder Helen sets foot in Dubai, there’s a major breakthrough: after months of negotiations, nearly 200 nations have agreed on how to run a ‘loss and damage fund’ to help poorer countries weather the impacts of a changing climate.

1 December, 2023
India prepares to build a third aircraft carrier

India is set to add a third aircraft carrier worth $5B to its fleet, with its Defense Acquisition Council likely to clear the deal on Friday, according to Bloomberg.

29 November, 2023
North Korea scraps key military pact with the South

Following the launch of North Korea’s first spy satellite on Tuesday night, and South Korea’s resumption of border surveillance in response, the North scrapped a key military pact between the two neighbours yesterday (Thursday).

24 November, 2023
Did India try to assassinate a US citizen on US soil?

The US has thwarted a plot to assassinate a Sikh activist on American soil, and issued a warning to India over its possible involvement, according to the Financial Times.

23 November, 2023