Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case: Congress Opposes Verdict, BJP Plans Protests To Demand MP's Apology. Key Points

Later, he was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow time for an appeal in higher court.

Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi.

Source : PTI

A Gujarat court on Thursday sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years in prison for defaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi by making a comment about his family name. Alleging that there was an attempt to "silence" Gandhi, Congress said all such efforts would be futile. "We will fight this legally and politically," the party said.

Upset with the verdict, more than 50 MPs gathered at Mallikarjun Kharge's home on Thursday. Kharge convened a meeting of all Opposition party MPs at 10 am on Friday to protest the order. "From 11.30 AM to noon, Opposition parties will walk to Vijay Chowk to protest. We have sougt time from the President as well," Jairam Ramesh said. 

"Tomorrow evening Congress President & CLP leader will have meeting for programs to be held in different states. This verdict on Rahul Gandhi is an example of PM Modi Govt’s dirty politics. We will fight this legally & politically," he further stated. 

Tomorrow evening Congress President & CLP leader will have meeting for programs to be held in different states. This verdict on Rahul Gandhi is an example of PM Modi Govt’s dirty politics. We will fight this legally & politically: Jairam Ramesh, Congress pic.twitter.com/k70Awp0vrI

— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

On the other hand, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the Maharashtra president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, stating that by remarking on the surname Modi, the Congress MP insulted the Teli group and the OBCs in general.

According to Bawankule, the BJP would stage across the state against Rahul Gandhi from tomorrow.

BJP will protest aginst Rahul Gandhi...The way they are insulting the court order, we'll (BJP) protest across the state. Rahul Gandhi must apologise to PM Modi. They are countering the judiciary. From tomorrow, we will protest against & condemn Rahul Gandhi's statement:… pic.twitter.com/2sz8WnYuyE

— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

Bawankule told reporters at the BJP state office in Mumbai that the OBC group will put Rahul Gandhi in his place.

“How come all the thieves, be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi or Narendra Modi, have Modi in their names,” Rahul Gandhi had allegedly said during an election rally in 2019.

Here are the latest developments in the matter so far:

1. The Congress held a 'rail roko' protest in Kumbakonam and Virudhachalam in Tamil Nadu. The party's MPs also staged a "black band" protest in front of the state legislature, criticising Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the defamation case.
2. Rahul Gandhi returned to Delhi from Surat. He invoked Mahatma Gandhi in his initial reaction to the ruling. "My religion is founded on the principles of truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, and non-violence is the method to get it," he tweeted. The Congress questioned the court's ability to impose such a hefty sentence after only a 20-minute hearing.
3. In a rare display of solidarity following the ruling, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: “A conspiracy is being hatched to eliminate non-BJP leaders and parties by prosecuting them. We have differences with the Congress, but it is not right to implicate Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case like this. It is the job of the public and the opposition to ask questions. We respect the court but disagree with the decision.”
4. Gandhi's counsel claimed that the court procedures were "flawed" from the start. He said that P Modi, rather than MLA Purnesh Modi, should have been the complainant in the case because Gandhi had specifically mentioned him in his address.
5. Shiv Sena (Uddhav) faction leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, tweeted, “With all due respect to the judiciary, Rahul Gandhi’s conviction is excessive and will have far-reaching consequences. This non-stop targeting of opposition leaders is condemnable and it won’t silence the voices who speak for the people and refuse to be ji huzoor of the government. (sic)”
6. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said Rahul Gandhi as the only person capable of competing with the BJP administration. “We keep saying our democracy is in danger as there is pressure on judiciary, ECI, ED and they’re all misused. All decisions are made under influence. Such comments are common… Rahul Gandhi is a courageous man and only he can compete with NDA government," he tweeted. 
7. Slamming Rahul Gandhi, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule stated: "BJP will protest aginst Rahul Gandhi...The way they are insulting the court order, we'll (BJP) protest across the state. Rahul Gandhi must apologise to PM Modi. They are countering the judiciary. From tomorrow, we will protest against & condemn Rahul Gandhi's statement."
8. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary, stated that "her brother has never been frightened" and will "continue to tell the truth." “The whole machinery of scared power is trying to suppress the voice of Rahul Gandhi by every means. My brother has never been afraid, nor will he ever be. He has lived speaking the truth, and will continue to speak the truth. He will continue to raise the voice of the people of the country,” she tweeted, adding, “The power of truth and the love of crores of countrymen are with him.”
9. Earlier last week, Delhi police questioned Gandhi at his residence over his comments during the Bharat Jodo Yatra that "women are still being sexually harassed."
10. "As far as I can understand, he is not thinking about what he is saying. This is nothing else but desperation after being ousted from power. That is why they are speaking nonsense. Public understands everything. Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the entire Teli community," said Ram Narayan Sahu, president, Akhil Bharatiya Teli Mahasangh.

(With Inputs From Agencies)