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Rahul Gandhi case highlights: Political row erupts over Surat court's verdict
Rahul Gandhi defamation case highlights: Rahul Gandhi was present at the Surat court on Thursday as it convicted him in a defamation case dating back to 2019.
A local court in Gujarat's Surat given a two-year term to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for a comment which he made in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections where he wondered how ‘all thieves have Modi as the common surname’. The verdict has been suspended for 30 days, on request of his legal team, to give him a chance to appeal the guilty verdict....Read More
The court's verdict became a rallying point for opposition leaders, including Delhi and Jharkhand chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren, to protest against the order. Similarly the Bharatiya Janata Party has welcomed the order and criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for questioning the judgement.
What now for Rahul Gandhi?
An elected representative sentenced for any offence for two years or more faces immediate disqualification under the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951.
A provision that granted three months' protection from disqualification was struck down in 2013 as 'ultra vires' by the Supreme Court in the Lily Thomas case. In Gandhi's case, the court that found him guilty suspended its sentence for 30 days - on request - to give him a chance to challenge its decision.
This means the disqualification will kick in a month later, unless Gandhi can get a stay on the conviction (and sentence) from another court.
Rahul Gandhi cannot approach the Gujarat High Court or Supreme Court at this time since this is a criminal case, but a third party could - on grounds the procedure and manner of the Surat court's ruling hurt the larger public interest.
Congress calls Oppn meet over Surat court order against Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday has called MPs from all Opposition parties for a meeting over Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case. Read more
Varanasi court quashes plea seeking FIR against Rahul Gandhi over his UK speech
A local court in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Thursday rejected a plea seeking an FIR against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his speech he made at the Cambridge University during his recent visit to the UK. Read more
Kamal Haasan extends support to Rahul Gandhi
Actor Kamal Haasan has extended support to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi after Surat court gave a two-year term on a defamation case. He said Rahul Gandhi has ‘seen more testing times and unfair moments’ and that he will get his justice.
Congress' reaction shows they don't respect country's institutions: Pralhad Joshi
“The reactions of leaders of Congress make it clear that they don't respect the institutions of the country. This is quite evident that they have scant respect for the institutions and they are repeatedly showing it,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Surat Court's verdict on Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)
Raghav Chadha to introduce Bill agianst defamation. What law says
Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Thursday said he will introduce the Decriminalisation of Defamation Bill, 2023, to repeal Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Read more
‘Rahul Gandhi defies, disrespects every democratic institution’: Piyush Goyal
Union minister Piyush Goyal said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi must come to terms with the fact that today ‘PM Narendra Modi is the most loved, admired & the most trusted leader in India and across the world’. He further demanded Congress MP's apology for his ‘irresponsible, defamatory statement’.
Rahul Gandhi arrives at his residence
Rahul Gandhi lands in Delhi, Congress workers raise slogan in his support
Youth Congress in Kerala carries out protest march against Surat court's verdict
Youth Congress workers carried out a protest march to Rajbhavan against the Surat Court verdict against Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)
Congress workers gather at Delhi's IGI airport in support of Rahul Gandhi
Congress workers have reached Delhi's IGI airport to receive Rahul Gandhi, who is scheduled to return from Gujarat. They have raised slogans in support of the Congress MP.
Congress' Karti Chidambaram criticises BJP over verdict against Rahul Gandhi
Congress MP Kart Chidambaram said the Bharatiya Janata Party uses outdated, crude, colonial tools to silence political opponents. “This is a Govt which uses outdated, crude, colonial tools to silence vocal political opponents. This is yet another example of a crude attempt to silence a political opponent. This judgement will be appealed, we know the playbook of the Govt. We are well prepared for it. Party is solidly behind Rahul Gandhi,” he told ANI.
AAP's Raghav Chadha to introduce Decriminalisation of Defamation Bill, 2023
Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha said that he will introduce the Decriminalisation of Defamation Bill, 2023 in a bid to repeal the ‘relics of colonial past’.
‘Whenever Rahul Gandhi speaks…’: Union minister Kiren Rijiju
Union law and justice minister Kiren Rijiju said whenever Congress MP Rahul Gandhi speaks, it always affects his party and the country. He responded amid political uproar between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition parties after a Gujarat court gave a two-year term to the Congress MP for a comment which he made in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections where he wondered how ‘all thieves have Modi as the common surname’.
Rajnath Singh says Rahul Gandhi must take court's verdict as a lesson
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi should take the Surat Court judgement as a learning that “words are deadlier than weapons”. Read more
'Congress wants Rahul Gandhi to utter abuses’: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said if Rahul Gandhi has the right to ‘disrespect’ or ‘abuse’ someone then anybody who is ‘at dismay’ due to it has the right to file a defamation case against him. Read more
‘Shah and Shahanshah…’: Congress' Pawan Khera criticises BJP over Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi
'Shah and Shahanshah' want an India where a silent opposition is lying in the corner of a room, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera said in response to Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi over his 2019 comment where he wondered how ‘all thieves have Modi surnames’.
BJP reacts as Kejriwal backs Rahul Gandhi
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday slammed its direct rival in Delhi Aam Aadmi Party after chief minister Arvind Kejriwal came out in support of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he was sentenced to two years in jail in a defamation case, alleging that a conspiracy was being hatched to “eliminate” non-BJP leaders and parties by prosecuting them. Read more
Congress MPs will reach IGI airport to receive Rahul Gandhi today
Amid uproar over Surat court's verdict, Congress MPs will reach the Indira Gandhi International airport to receive Rahul Gandhi today. Further details awaited.
AAP's Raghav Chadha disagrees with Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi
Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha said he ‘respectfully disagree’ with Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi over his 2019 speech.
WATCH: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi reaches Surat airport
Maharashtra ruling party's legislators hit a poster of Gandhi with shoes
Hours after senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was convicted in a defamation case, the legislators from ruling parties - Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena and BJP - hit a poster of Gandhi with shoes and chappals in the Vidhan Bhavan premises for insulting Hindutva ideologue Veer Savakar during Maharashtra leg of 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' held last year.
What Rahul Gandhi had said in 2019?
The case was filed by ex-Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi who claimed Gandhi had defamed the Modi community by his remark.
The Congress leader’s remarks followed an earlier reference to fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi; "Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi...how come they all have Modi as common surname? How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" Gandhi had asked.
