Parliament will witness the start of the campaign by both the ruling as well as opposition parties for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections next week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a hat-trick by securing a BJP majority in the next Lok Sabha, on the lines of the previous two. As for his likely opponent, a lower court found the Congress Party’s de facto Prime Ministerial candidate Rahul Gandhi guilty of criminal defamation and imposed the maximum sentence prescribed for the offence. As a consequence of the judgement, Rahul was disqualified from being an MP. The Gujarat High Court concurred with the lower court view, only to have the matter stayed by the Supreme Court, thereby ensuring his return to the Lok Sabha. Had Rahul Gandhi used his immense influence over the previous government to consign the colonial-era law relating to criminal defamation to the trashcan, he would not have had to go through the temporary inconvenience of being deprived of his Lok Sabha seat. A criminal defamation law belongs only to a colonised and not a free people. It is to be hoped that it will be removed from the statute books by the present government in the same way as so many other colonial-era laws and regulations have been since PM Modi took over in 2014.
This story is from the August 06, 2023 edition of The Sunday Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 06, 2023 edition of The Sunday Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
WALKING THROUGH A SONGLINE HIGHLIGHTS AUSTRALIA'S INDIGENOUS HERITAGE
The immersive multimedia installation Walking Through a Songline’ in New Delhi, organized by the Australian High Commission and KNMA, showcases Australia’s First Nations culture through digital technology, fostering cultural exchange and appreciation between Australia and India.
GEN UPENDRA DWIVEDI TAKES CHARGE OF THE INDIAN ARMY
Gen Upendra Dwivedi would have his hands fullas the COAS.
British Hindu Manifesto GE 2024: Why the manifesto and key demands
Hinduism in England is the third largest religion in the country and represent over 1.8% ofthe English population. British Hindus include Hindu communities like Gujaratis, Punjabis, Tamils from Srilanka, Nepali Hindus, Fijians, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyanese & Mauritians among others.
FRANCES FAR-RIGHT NATIONAL RALLY STRENGTHENING IN POLLS
The far-right National Rally (RN) has strengthened in final polls, including one suggesting it could be on course for a historic parliamentary majority, as candidates fought for votes on the last day of campaigning before the first-round ballot in France's most momentous election for decades.
Countering CCP's narrative warfare with the Digital Lennon Wall
‘CCP must lie in order to cover up the terrible things that they’re doing in China, in Hong Kong, and around the world. To do this, they use narrative warfare to control what people see as the truth.’
HOW TO MAKE UNPOPULAR CANDIDATES WIN, THE TRINAMOOL WAY
The question that has left everybody flummoxed is how the Trinamool Congress managed to wrest victory for its unpopular and unwinnable candidates’ in the face of serious anti-incumbency.
CONGRESS HIGH COMMAND UNHAPPY WITH PARTY LEADERSHIP IN MP
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari is criticised by the senior leaders of the party as they deem him to be incompetent.
Rebels want changes in SAD leadership after electoral losses
Shiromani Akali Dal has split into two factions, with one of the sides demanding change in the leadership as they seek to reconnect with the public and gain their trust.
MADHYA PRADESH GRANTS FIRST CAA CERTIFICATES
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav personally handed over the citizenship certificates to two Pakistani applicants.
Nitish appoints as working president a man trusted by BJP
Sanjay Jha was a protégé of the late Arun Jaitley.
