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.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.(Hindustan Times)

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.

Follow all the updates here:

• Mar 23, 2023 11:15 PM IST

  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

• Mar 23, 2023 09:47 PM IST

  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

• Mar 23, 2023 09:07 PM IST

  Kamal Haasan extends support to Rahul Gandhi

  Rahulji, I stand by you during these times! You have seen more testing times and unfair moments. Our Judicial system is robust enough to correct aberrations in dispensation of Justice. We are sure, you will get your justice on your appeal of the Surat Court’s decision! Satyameva…

  — Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) March 23, 2023

  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. 

• Mar 23, 2023 07:58 PM IST

  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)

• Mar 23, 2023 07:27 PM IST

  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

• Mar 23, 2023 06:45 PM IST

  ‘Rahul Gandhi defies, disrespects every democratic institution’: Piyush Goyal

  Rahul Gandhi defies and disrespects every democratic institution, whether it is the Parliament or the judiciary. He should come out of this dynastic mindset and realise that no individual is bigger than the country, bigger than the people of India, bigger than the Constitution of… pic.twitter.com/qDqLES9wcs

  — ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

  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’. 

• Mar 23, 2023 05:57 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi arrives at his residence

  #WATCH | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi arrives at his residence in Delhi.
  
  Surat District Court in Gujarat held him guilty in the criminal defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remark. He was later granted bail. pic.twitter.com/9Kw3IBVHMt

  — ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 05:17 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi lands in Delhi, Congress workers raise slogan in his support

  #WATCH | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi returns to Delhi.
  
  Surat District Court in Gujarat held him guilty in the criminal defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remark. He was later granted bail. pic.twitter.com/viUhC38zHl

  — ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 05:04 PM IST

  Youth Congress in Kerala carries out protest march against Surat court's verdict

  Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | Youth Congress workers carried out a protest march to Rajbhavan against the Surat Court verdict against Rahul Gandhi.
  
  Surat District Court held him guilty in the criminal defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remark. He was later… pic.twitter.com/JfgOPfJ9IE

  — ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

  Youth Congress workers carried out a protest march to Rajbhavan against the Surat Court verdict against Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)

• Mar 23, 2023 04:59 PM IST

  Congress workers gather at Delhi's IGI airport in support of Rahul Gandhi

  #WATCH | Congress workers gather at Delhi airport and raise slogans in support of the party's MP Rahul Gandhi, who is scheduled to return here shortly.
  
  Surat District Court held him guilty in the criminal defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remark. He was… pic.twitter.com/2Daj02AYgE

  — ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

  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.

• Mar 23, 2023 04:57 PM IST

  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.

• Mar 23, 2023 04:16 PM IST

  AAP's Raghav Chadha to introduce Decriminalisation of Defamation Bill, 2023

  Soon, I'll be introducing a Bill titled The Decriminalization of Defamation Bill, 2023 to repeal Sections 499 & 500 of the India Penal Code to bring it in line with international jurisprudence on defamation & repeal these relics of colonial past to ensure fearless discourse.(2/2) pic.twitter.com/kRRQrsySAZ

  — Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) March 23, 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’. 

• Mar 23, 2023 04:02 PM IST

  ‘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’.

• Mar 23, 2023 03:56 PM IST

  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

• Mar 23, 2023 03:16 PM IST

  '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

• Mar 23, 2023 03:06 PM IST

  ‘Shah and Shahanshah…’: Congress' Pawan Khera criticises BJP over Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi

  Shah & Shahanshah want an India where a silent opposition is lying in the corner of a room, where an obedient media dances to their tune, where subservient agencies work on their directions. ⁦@RahulGandhi⁩ does not let that happen. He will continue to question the govt. pic.twitter.com/XoiXGgZn0N

  — Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) March 23, 2023

  '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’.

• Mar 23, 2023 02:58 PM IST

  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

• Mar 23, 2023 02:37 PM IST

  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.

• Mar 23, 2023 02:20 PM IST

  AAP's Raghav Chadha disagrees with Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi

  Respectfully disagree with court verdict against @RahulGandhi. Opposition forms core of democracy. Dissent should not be stifled. India has strong tradition of critique. Attempt to reduce this to viewpoint of one ideology, one party, one leader is unconstitutional & undemocratic.

  — Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) March 23, 2023

  Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha said he ‘respectfully disagree’ with Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi over his 2019 speech. 

• Mar 23, 2023 02:06 PM IST

  WATCH: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi reaches Surat airport

  #WATCH | Gujarat: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi leaves from Surat airport.
  
  Surat District Court held Congress MP Rahul Gandhi guilty in the criminal defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remark. pic.twitter.com/bccw2W5KBC

  — ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 01:58 PM IST

  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.

• Mar 23, 2023 01:52 PM IST

  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.

• Mar 23, 2023 01:48 PM IST

  Priyanka Chaturvedi on Rahul Gandhi's conviction

  With all due respect to judiciary, Sh. Rahul Gandhi’s conviction is excessive and will have far reaching consequences. This non-stop targeting of opposition leaders is condemnable&it won’t silence the voices who speak for the people& refuse to be ji huzoor of the government.

  — Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 01:45 PM IST

  Tamil Nadu: Congress workers protest in Chennai against the verdict

  Tamil Nadu | Congress workers protest at Satyamurthy Bhavan headquarters in Chennai
  
  Such undemocratic activity of BJP is motivated by malice, it is a false case of defamation. The public is watching everything: Congress leader AK Gopanna pic.twitter.com/cfRophMULF

  — ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 01:44 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi should take a lesson from this: Rajnath Singh

  #WATCH | "Congress MP Rahul Gandhi should take a lesson from this," says Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Rahul Gandhi being convicted by the Surat District Court for his 'Modi surname' remark pic.twitter.com/kYcy5bNkpm

  — ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 01:43 PM IST

  Opposition parties on Gandhi's defamation case verdict

  The court order became a rallying point for the opposition leaders as two non-Congress chief ministers Delhi's Arvind Kejriwal and Jharkhand's Hemant Soren protested against the verdict.

• Mar 23, 2023 01:39 PM IST

  BJP trying to frighten Rahul Gandhi: Congress

  BJP trying to frighten Rahul into silence, say Congress leaders.

• Mar 23, 2023 01:37 PM IST

  What Rahul Gandhi's lawyer said before the verdict

  Rahul Gandhi's lawyer said, “we are not asking for mercy and we are going for an appeal. And whatever it was, it was not intentional. There was no harm to the complainant or to any other person. So the minimum punishment should be given to Rahul Gandhi”, advocate Jignesh said to PTI before the court pronounced the punishment. 

• Mar 23, 2023 01:33 PM IST

  What now for Rahul Gandhi?

  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.

• Mar 23, 2023 01:30 PM IST

  ‘Don’t be afraid': Congress

  डरी हुई सरकार
  डरा हुआ प्रशासन
  बौखलाया हुआ तंत्र
  
  बस एक ही है जो कह रहा है
  
  "डरो मत" pic.twitter.com/aXBQJut5bB

  — Congress (@INCIndia) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 01:26 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi tore ordinance in 2013 for 3-month protection from disqualification

  Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in a criminal defamation case will not immediately disqualify him as a Member of Parliament (MP). The Congress retains the option to go to a higher court, which, the party said, is one its legal team will pursue. Read more

• Mar 23, 2023 01:25 PM IST

  Jharkhand CM Soren disagrees from court's verdict on Rahul Gandhi

  न्यायिक व्यवस्था पर पूरा विश्वास रखते हुए भी मानहानि मामले में श्री @RahulGandhi जी को सजा के निर्णय से असहमत हूँ। गैर-भाजपा सरकारों और नेताओं को षडयंत्र का शिकार बनाया जा रहा है। यह देश के लोकतंत्र और राजनीति के लिए चिंता का विषय है।
  मगर जनतंत्र के आगे धनतंत्र की कोई बिसात नहीं।

  — Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 01:20 PM IST

  Can Rahul Gandhi be disqualified as MP?

  Any elected representative who is sentenced for any offence for a period of two years or more faces immediate disqualification under the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951. One provision of the Act 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, however, the Surat court that declared him guilty has itself suspended his sentence for 30 days in order to give him an opportunity to challenge its decision on the request on his legal team. This means that Gandhi’s disqualification will kick in after a month, unless he is able to get a stay on the conviction

• Mar 23, 2023 01:19 PM IST

  BJP welcomes the court verdict

  The BJP which has been up in arms demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi for his latest remarks in the United Kingdom welcomed the court verdict. Union minister Kiren Rijiju said whatever Rahul Gandhi says proves to be dangerous for the party and the country.

• Mar 23, 2023 01:18 PM IST

  Supriya Shrinate on verdict

  तुम्हारा पूरा तंत्र, तुम्हारे संसाधन, तुम्हारी पुलिस और ख़ुद तुम
  
  एक अकेले इंसान को चुप कराने में लगे हो
  
  क्योंकि उसने तुम्हारे मुखौटे को बेनक़ाब कर दिया है
  
  देखना, सच की ताक़त - जीत उसी की होगी
  
  गांधी डरते नहीं हैं pic.twitter.com/QAoBW4uud3

  — Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 01:15 PM IST

  Manickam Tagore on Rahul Gandhi's conviction

  What is wrong in calling Nirav Modi chor?
  
  What is wrong in calling Lalit Modi thief?
  
  Who allowed them to escape?
  
  Modi allowed them.@RahulGandhi is a true Gandhi follower.
  
  Rahul Gandhi = Courage 💪🏻
  We stand with RG 💪🏻

  — Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳✋மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 01:13 PM IST

  The tyrant is nervous about this “courage”:  Revanth Reddy

  "Rahul Gandhi is raising his voice against dictatorship. He has the courage to say what is wrong is wrong. The tyrant is nervous about this “COURAGE”. We will fight and win", tweeted Revanth Reddy, Telangana Congress chief

• Mar 23, 2023 01:07 PM IST

  Why Rahul will not lose Lok Sabha membership?

  Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in Surat district in a criminal defamation case will not immediately disqualify him as an MP. 

  “A sentence suspended means that Gandhi has been found guilty but his punishment will not be applicable immeediately,” said SC lawyer Upamanyu Hazarika. These 30 days will be crucial for Gandhi. If he can get a higher court to stay or set aside the Surat district court’s order, he can continue to be a MP.

• Mar 23, 2023 01:03 PM IST

  Chhattisgarh CM Baghel on Rahul Gandhi's conviction

  #WATCH | There is an attempt to suppress the media, there is an attempt to influence the judiciary & they are taking action against the people of different political parties at this level: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on Rahul Gandhi being convicted by the Surat District Court pic.twitter.com/ybOStylCSG

  — ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

  There is an attempt to suppress the media, there is an attempt to influence the judiciary & they are taking action against the people of different political parties at this level: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on Rahul Gandhi being convicted by the Surat District Court

• Mar 23, 2023 01:00 PM IST

  Congress President on Rahul Gandhi's case verdict

  कायर, तानाशाह भाजपा सरकार श्री @RahulGandhi और विपक्ष से तिलमिलाई हुई है क्योंकि हम उनके काले कारनामों को उजागर कर रहे हैं। JPC की माँग कर रहे हैं।
  
  राजनैतिक दिवालियेपन की शिकार मोदी सरकार,
  
  ED, पुलिस भेजती है
  राजनैतिक भाषणों पर केस थोपती है।
  
  हम Higher Court में अपील करेंगे।

  — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 12:54 PM IST

  Priyanka Gandhi on Brother Rahul Gandhi's conviction

  डरी हुई सत्ता की पूरी मशीनरी साम, दाम, दंड, भेद लगाकर @RahulGandhi जी की आवाज को दबाने की कोशिश कर रही है।
  
  मेरे भाई न कभी डरे हैं, न कभी डरेंगे। सच बोलते हुए जिये हैं, सच बोलते रहेंगे। देश के लोगों की आवाज उठाते रहेंगे।
  
  सच्चाई की ताकत व करोड़ों देशवासियों का प्यार उनके साथ है।

  — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 12:53 PM IST

  Watch: What Rahul Gandhi said in Surat court

  VIDEO | "Rahul Gandhi told the Judge that whatever he said was not intentional," says advocate Jignesh adding the prosecution requested the court to pronounce maximum punishment in the case. pic.twitter.com/vfLfiPQWBN

  — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 23, 2023

  Rahul Gandhi told the court that he has been raising the voices of the people. Whatever he said was not intentional, advocate Jignest told news agency PTI. Read more

• Mar 23, 2023 12:51 PM IST

  ‘Gandhi is not afraid’, tweets Congress

  गांधी डरते नहीं

  — Congress (@INCIndia) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 12:49 PM IST

  'We have differences but...': Kejriwal's tweet after Rahul Gandhi found guilty

  ग़ैर बीजेपी नेताओं और पार्टियों पर मुक़दमे करके उन्हें ख़त्म करने की साज़िश हो रही है
  
  हमारे कांग्रेस से मतभेद हैं मगर राहुल गांधी जी को इस तरह मानहानि मुक़दमे में फ़साना ठीक नहीं। जनता और विपक्ष का काम है सवाल पूछना। हम अदालत का सम्मान करते हैं पर इस निर्णय से असहमत हैं

  — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 23, 2023

  Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal backed Rahul Gandhi Thursday after the Congress MP was handed a suspended two-year jail term for remarks a Gujarat court ruled found defamatory. Read more

• Mar 23, 2023 12:47 PM IST

  ‘This is new India’: Jairam Ramesh on Rahul Gandhi's defamation case verdict

  ये न्यू इंडिया है
  
  अन्याय के खिलाफ आवाज उठाओगे तो ED-CBI, पुलिस, FIR सबसे लाद दिए जाओगे।
  
  राहुल गांधी जी को भी सच बोलने की, तानाशाह के खिलाफ आवाज़ बुलंद करने की सजा मिल रही है।
  
  देश का कानून राहुल गांधी जी को अपील का अवसर देता है, वह इस अधिकार का प्रयोग करेंगे।
  
  हम डरने वाले नहीं

  — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 12:45 PM IST

  ‘Once a Liar. Always a Liar’: BJP's Manjinder Sirsa

  Once a Liar. Always a Liar.
  Serial offender Rahul Gandhi convicted by the Surat court & sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment in the criminal defamation case filed against him over his “Modi Surname” remark.
  He has been spearheading a negative information campaign against every… pic.twitter.com/cwIAEOFi7j

  — Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 12:44 PM IST

  Digvijay Singh on Rahul Gandhi's defamation case verdict

  VIDEO | "In what context he (Rahul Gandhi) made the 'Modi-surname' remarks? He talked about Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, who escaped," says Congress leader @digvijaya_28. pic.twitter.com/GAAM6AuQkP

  — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 12:42 PM IST

  ‘I welcome the judgement’: MLA who filed the suit against Gandhi

  #WATCH | "I welcome the judgement of the court," says BJP MLA Purnesh Modi, who filed the complaint against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his 'Modi surname' remark. pic.twitter.com/hIGhavQCym

  — ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 12:41 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi retains his Lok Sabha membership

  Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in Surat district in a criminal defamation case will not immediately disqualify him as an MP. The Congress also retains the option to go to higher court, which its legal team is going to pursue. As of now, Gandhi retains his Lok Sabha membership as the Surat Court has suspended its sentence for 30 days.

• Mar 23, 2023 12:40 PM IST

  ‘Rahul Gandhi is a courageous man’: Ashok Gehlot

  #WATCH | We keep saying our democracy is in danger as there is pressure on judiciary, ECI, ED & they're all misused. All decisions are made under influence. Such comments are common... Rahul Gandhi is a courageous man & only he can compete with NDA govt: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot pic.twitter.com/Wolt0IuYLa

  — ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

• Mar 23, 2023 12:39 PM IST

  ‘Will Rahul Gandhi now apologise?’: BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla

  BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla linked the 2019 comment with the recent uproar over Rahul Gandhi's comments made in the UK and asked whether Rahul Gandhi will now apologise.

• Mar 23, 2023 12:37 PM IST

  ‘He is flippant and dangerous’: BJP's Amit Malviya

  BJP's Amit Malviya said the comment was a casteist and defamatory one and it targetted a section of society. "He is flippant and dangerous, who has no compunction deriding India and Indians. He had recently pleaded for Europe and US intervention in India’s internal affairs… Shameful," Malviya said.

• Mar 23, 2023 12:36 PM IST

  'Whatever Rahul Gandhi says...': BJP leaders on 'Modi surname' verdict

  Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said whatever Rahul Gandhi says nowadays is dangerous not only for the party but also for the country -- after a Surat court convicted Rahul Gandhi for his comments. Read more

• Mar 23, 2023 12:33 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi gets bail; 2-yr sentence for '…all thieves Modi' remark suspended for 30 days

  Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been convicted by a Surat court on Thursday which sentenced him to 2 years in jail in a criminal defamation case over his alleged remark during the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Rahul Gandhi at a rally in Karnataka's Kolar wondered how come "all thieves have Modi as the common surname". Read more

• Mar 23, 2023 12:32 PM IST

  What was the case?

  Rahul Gandhi was convicted by a Gujarat court Thursday in the 2019 defamation case - his 'all thieves have Modi as the common surname' remark. Read more

• Mar 23, 2023 12:29 PM IST

  Rahul Gandhi's first reaction on defamation case verdict: 'Truth my God, non-violence the means to get it'

  मेरा धर्म सत्य और अहिंसा पर आधारित है। सत्य मेरा भगवान है, अहिंसा उसे पाने का साधन।
  
  - महात्मा गांधी

  — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 23, 2023

  Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted a quote of Mahatma Gandhi in his first reaction after he was convicted by a Surat court in a defamation case dating back to 2019.

• Mar 23, 2023 12:23 PM IST

  2-year jail term for Rahul Gandhi on ‘Modi surname’ remark

  The Surat court sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail but he has been released on bail so he can appeal the verdict.