Prayagraj: “It is a day of happiness, democracy has won, Constitution has won, Satymeva Jayate. This is the victory of the common people. It is a victory of love over hate. This is not just Rahul Gandhi’s victory; this is the victory of all the people of the country, the victory of democracy and of constitutional principles. The constitution is alive and this is an example that one can get justice. This is the victory of the common people and of constitutional principles,” said senior Congress leader and former AICC member, Shekhar Bahuguna as ecstatic party workers danced to the beats of drums, distributed sweets, and unfurled the Congress flag welcoming court verdict, which is seen as a massive shot in the arm of Gandhi scion.

“We maintain that the case was manufactured with the sole intention of keeping Rahul Gandhi from Parliament. The person who fights for truth, for the country’s interest, to strengthen the country, for the youth of the country, against rising prices, the person who fights and makes people aware, who walked 4,000 km from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and met various people, I think their prayers are with us and it is, therefore, the victory of the people. The judgment is a strong vindication of truth and justice. Despite the relentless efforts of the BJP’s machinery, Rahul Gandhi has refused to bend, break or bow, choosing instead to place his faith in the judicial process,” opines Shekhar during a candid discussion with reporters. 

“This entire country has heard and seen Rahul Gandhi in action inside and outside Parliament. His actions, his speech, his thought process, and his abhiyaans (campaigns) are ultimately animated by his thinking — Daro Mat. He has demonstrated time and again the courage of his convictions. Rahul Gandhi has shown exemplary courage, restraint, and faith in the judicial process. This entire incident has demonstrated the vital importance of an opposition that will not be backing down. Which is Rahul Gandhi’s calling card — ‘don’t back down,” he said. “This has also demonstrated how the opposition, and principal voice among them is Rahul Gandhi, doesn’t yield on important issues such as farmers’ issues and unemployment,” he said.

Asked what would be the course of action if there is a delay in the reinstatement of Gandhi as a Lok Sabha MP, he said, “You can find many excuses…I can find 10 more excuses…It will show mala fide, it will be unfair, it will be graceless and it will be completely contrary to the heart and soul of parliamentary democracy which requires certain etiquette and give and take. Just as we have faith in courts and justice, we have faith in democracy. Ultimately if that is belied and betrayed then as law-abiding citizens we will have to go to court,” he said. He said lower courts have repeatedly said that Gandhi should apologize but he asserted he is fighting on principles.

Earlier in the day, in a big relief to Gandhi, the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in the 2019 defamation case over his Modi surname remark, paving the way for the revival of his Lok Sabha membership. The Lok Sabha speaker can now restore his membership on his own or Gandhi, armed with the apex court order, seek restoration of his status as an MP. A three-judge bench of justices B R Gavai, P S Narasimha, and Sanjay Kumar said no reason was given by the trial court judge while convicting Gandhi except that he was admonished by the apex court in a contempt case.