Mumbai (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a Lok Sabha member was against the basic tenets of the Constitution and was a "condemnable" move that highlighted the curtailment of democratic values, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has said.

Gandhi, representing Wayanad parliamentary constituency in Kerala, was on Friday disqualified from the Lok Sabha, a day after his conviction in a defamation case by a court in Surat in Gujarat.

The court sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remarks at a 2019 poll rally in Karnataka. However, the court also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

Commenting on the development on Friday, the NCP supremo also referred to the disqualification of his party MP from Lakshadweep Mohammed Faizal P P following the latter's conviction in an attempt to murder case. Faizal's conviction was later suspended by the Kerala High Court.

"The disqualification of Mr Rahul Gandhi and Mr Faizal a few months ago as MPs of the Lok Sabha are against the basic tenets of the constitution, where democratic values are being curtailed. This is condemnable and against the very principles on which the constitution is based," Pawar tweeted.

"Our constitution guarantees the right of each Individual to fair justice; liberty of thought; equality of status and opportunity and fraternity assuring the dignity of each Indian. #RahulGandhi," the former Union minister said in a series of tweets.

We all need to stand together to defend our democratic institutions, he added.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Science and Technology Minister N S Boseraju on Tuesday said the state is set to witness a historic moment in India’s scientific journey as the state government is all set to host Nobel laureates Duncan Haldane and David Gross for an exclusive dialogue on July 30.

The interaction precedes the nation’s first-ever Quantum India Bengaluru Summit, scheduled on July 31 and August 1, officials said.

“Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, our government is laying the groundwork to position Karnataka as India’s Quantum Capital. This dialogue with Nobel Laureates marks the beginning of a long-term roadmap to integrate quantum innovation into Karnataka’s development blueprint,” the Minister said in a statement.

With Bengaluru already recognised as the nation’s innovation nucleus, Karnataka is accelerating efforts to harness quantum technologies for economic and social transformation.

From IT and aerospace to cutting-edge quantum frontiers, the state aims to strengthen its position on the global innovation map, he added.

According to him, the dialogue will facilitate high-level discussions between the Nobel Laureates and Karnataka’s top officials, including the Principal Secretaries of Industries, IT and BT, and Higher Education. The exchange is expected to pave the way for advancing quantum research, infrastructure, and collaborations with global experts.

"The presence of Nobel Laureates at the Quantum India Bengaluru Summit underscores the international significance of the event, which will bring together global and national leaders in quantum science, placing Karnataka at the epicenter of India’s quantum revolution," he added.