India expels Rahul Gandhi, Modi critic, from Parliament

By ASHOK SHARMA and SHEIKH SAALIQ
Associated Press

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s top opposition leader and fierce critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expelled from Parliament Friday. It came one day after a court convicted Rahul Gandhi of defamation and sentenced him to two years in prison for mocking the surname Modi in an election speech. The conviction and expulsion were widely condemned by opponents of Modi, who say democracy and free speech are under assault by a ruling government seeking to crush any dissent. Expelling Gandhi, the great-grandson of India’s first prime minister, delivered a major blow to the opposition party ahead of next year’s elections. Gandhi was granted bail for 30 days and plans to appeal the verdict.