Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Thursday tweeted support for her elder brother Rahul Gandhi after he faced conviction in the 2019 defamation case - his 'all thieves have Modi as the common surname' remark. Priyanka slammed the Bharatiya Janata party-led Centre, alleging its ‘machineries’ are working to suppress Gandhi’s voice by all means but he is not afraid of anyone.
The Congress party’s general secretary said in a tweet in Hindi, “The whole machinery of sacred power is trying to suppress the voice of Rahul Gandhi ji by imposing price, punishment, discrimination,” adding that her brother (Gandhi) has never been afraid, nor he ever will be. She rooted for the Wayanad Lok Sabha MP, saying he has always lived speaking the truth and will continue to do so.
“The power of truth and the love of crores of countrymen are with him,” she affirmed.
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Rahul Gandhi was convicted in a criminal defamation case by a Gujarat court earlier today for his comments made in Karnataka's Kolar district ahead of the 2019 national election. He was found guilty by a Surat court in Gujarat and was sentenced to two years of jail term but was released on bail to be able to appeal the verdict.
{{/usCountry}}Rahul Gandhi was convicted in a criminal defamation case by a Gujarat court earlier today for his comments made in Karnataka's Kolar district ahead of the 2019 national election. He was found guilty by a Surat court in Gujarat and was sentenced to two years of jail term but was released on bail to be able to appeal the verdict.
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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.
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.