Parliament on Friday disqualified opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi as a lawmaker after a Surat court found him guilty of defamation and sentenced him to two years in prison, according to a Parliament notice, according to media reports.

Gandhi, 52, a scion of the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, was convicted on Thursday for a 2019 speech in which he referred to thieves as having the surname Modi.

His disqualification as Wayanad MP is effective from March 23, the day of his conviction, the secretariat said in its notification, reports PTI.

The court granted him bail immediately and suspended the sentence for a month.

Earlier on Friday, the day after the Congress leader was convicted in a defamation case, Opposition MPs held a brief meeting at Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge’s office in the Parliament and then marched to the Rashtrapati Bhavan with posters, saying, “democracy is in danger”.

Security was beefed up in the Vijay Chowk area in view of the protest. The stir later dispersed with a few of the MPs being detained from Vijay Chowk while others leaving the spot.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came to the Lok Sabha this morning. Mayhem ensued as Congress leaders rushed to the Well of the House, demanding that he be allowed to speak. The Lok Sabha was adjourned moments later.

The Congress planned a massive agitation in the National Capital. It is scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu along with other party leaders to discuss the verdict.

Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi was on Thursday sentenced to two years in jail in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him for his alleged “Modi surname” remarks. Moments later, the court granted him bail, and stayed its order for a period of 30 days so the Congress leader can appeal in a higher court.