THE United States is watching the court case of Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, an official said Monday, adding that the country is engaging with India on the “shared commitment to democratic values – including, of course, freedom of expression.”
Speaking to the press in a routine briefing in the White House at around 11.40 pm IST, the US State Department’s Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel was asked for his comments on the Congress leader’s expulsion from the Parliament and whether that was consistent with democratic values.
“Respect for the rule of law and judicial independence is a cornerstone of any democracy, and we’re watching Mr. Gandhi’s case in Indian courts, and we engage with the Government of India on our shared commitment to democratic values – including, of course, freedom of expression,” Patel said.
“In our engagements with our Indian partners, we continue to highlight the importance of democratic principles and the protection of human rights, including freedom of expression, as a key to strengthening both our democracies,” he added.
Following this, Patel was asked if the US is still engaging with Gandhi as the opposition leader. “It is normal and standard for us to engage with members of opposition parties in any country where we have bilateral relationships,” replied Patel.
On March 23, a Surat court found Gandhi guilty in a 2019 criminal defamation case, and sentenced him to two years in jail. The Congress leader is currently on bail. The case was filed following Gandhi’s “why all thieves have Modi surname” remark, made during a campaign rally in Karnataka. A day later, he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction in the case.
Opposition parties in India stepped up their offensive against the Narendra Modi government and observed a “black day for democracy” on Monday, three days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha.
