‘Will strengthen INDIA bloc’: Opposition leaders welcome SC ruling on Rahul Gandhi's conviction

Rahul Gandhi was earlier convicted by a local court in Gujarat's Surat under a criminal defamation charge

Published on: Aug 4, 2023, 16:17:56 IST

By HT News Desk

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Opposition leaders across party lines welcomed Supreme Court's decision to put a stay on Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a criminal defamation case for his ‘Modi surname’ remark. They also slammed the BJP's ‘negative politics’.

The SC bench observed that Gandhi's conviction on the issue has wider ramification since it will also affect the right of those who elected him. He was earlier convicted by a local court in Gujarat's Surat under a criminal defamation charge over a remark made by him during an election rally in 2019. He asked, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

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West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said the decision by the apex body will ‘further strengthen the resolve of the INDIA alliance to unitedly fight for our motherland and win’.

“I am happy with the news about the MP-ship of @RahulGandhi This will further strengthen the resolve of the INDIA alliance to unitedly fight for our motherland and win. A victory of the judiciary!” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav quipped and said the SC verdict has boosted people's faith in the Indian democracy and judiciary.

“By staying the sentence of Rahul Gandhi, the Supreme Court has boosted people's faith in Indian democracy and judiciary. The arrogant flag of BJP's negative politics should bow today in mourning of his moral demise,” he wrote in Hindi.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha alleged that there was an attempt to keep Rahul's voice ‘away from the Parliament’ and claimed that the same could have been practiced on other leaders of the country.

Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (JKPDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti called the Rahul Gandhi's earlier conviction a case ‘with no legs to stand upon’.

“I welcome the SC verdict staying @RahulGandhi’s conviction in a case that had no legs to stand upon. Glad that he will be back in Parliament fighting for the idea of India," she wrote on X.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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