Congress sends court papers to speaker, seeks Rahul Gandhi's immediate reinstatement

Intensifying the party's demand for an immediate notification for the reinstatement of Rahul Gandhi's membership of the Lok Sabha, Congress floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday handed over to the speaker's office a letter and documents of the Supreme Court order staying Gandhi's conviction in a criminal defamation case.

The Congress leadership said they expected Gandhi would be formally allowed to attend the Lok Sabha from Monday, failing which there could be protests in the House.

Meanwhile, alleging a delay in Gandhi's reinstatement, party spokesman Jairam Ramesh asked whether Prime Minister Modi was afraid of the Congress leader participating in next week's House debate on a no-trust motion.


Congress circles also demanded the authorities to hand back Gandhi the Tughlaq Lane official residence.

AICC functionaries indicated that the court relief for Gandhi could also expedite the announcement of the long-pending new Congress Working Committee team.

On his part, Chowdhury narrated to the media how he handed over the court documents and his letter demanding Gandhi's reinstatement to the speaker's office.