'Modi Surname' Row HIGHLIGHTS: 'Rahul Gandhi Will Not Be Cleared Of Conviction,' Complainant's Lawyer Says
Rahul Gandhi defamation case HIGHLIGHTS: The SC has stayed the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in the Modi surname case after he put forth "exceptional arguments". Catch all the LIVE updates here.
On Supreme Court staying the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in 'Modi' surname defamation case, Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat says, "...This is an emotional win for the entire public. Supreme Court's verdict results in advice to many...It is a win for Rahul Gandhi's personality...This will also strengthen the alliance..."
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has sought time to meet Speaker Om Birla tomorrow regarding the Supreme Court's stay on Rahul Gandhi's conviction in 'Modi surname' remark case, ANI reported citing Congress Sources.
"Heights of duplicity! You abuse the judiciary when you get convicted, and when the same judiciary grants you bail, you say justice has prevailed," Assam CM Himanta Sarma posted.
Congress workers in Kalpetta town of Wayanad district in Kerala carried out a celebratory march and distributed sweets earlier today. The Supreme Court stayed the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in 'Modi' surname defamation case today, ANI reported.
"Fact of the matter is that he (Rahul Gandhi) is a convict and when the case goes on, I hope, he will be established as guilty. I can't say what sentence will the Sessions Court pronounce - 2 years or lesser or fine. But the evidence that has been presented is so strong that he will not be cleared of conviction," Mahesh Jethmalani - senior advocate appearing for complainant Purnesh Modi and Rajya Sabha MP. (ANI)
On Supreme Court staying the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in 'Modi' surname defamation case, Mahesh Jethmalani - senior advocate appearing for complainant Purnesh Modi and Rajya Sabha MP - says, "...Today the Court stayed the conviction. The Court said that insufficient reasons were given for the 2-year punishment that was earlier pronounced. It said that sufficient reasons should have been given for maximum punishment...Though the Court stayed the conviction today, in the eyes of law he is still a convict. 'Stay' means that the consequences of conviction - like disqualification - will be stayed because, like I said, the reasons were not sufficient. But now, there will be appeal in sessions court. Ruling of the magistrates' court is correct for both sentencing and conviction but due to the 'stay', he can return to the Parliament." (ANI)
"I welcome Hon’ble Supreme Court's intervention in an unjust defamation case against Rahul Gandhi ji. It reinforces people's trust in Indian democracy and the judicial system.
Congratulations to him and to the people of Wayanad," Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.
"I think it is a valid judgement. It has taken note of very serious errors in the order of the High Court. You imposed the maximum punishment of two years, you didn't tell any reason why it couldn't be of one year and six months?" Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi tells PTI
Former Lok Sabha Secretary General P D T Achari said that once the secretariat gets the order, it would initiate the process to issue a notification revoking his disqualification.After being convicted and sentenced to two years in jail by a Gujarat court in a defamation case, Gandhi was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member on March 23. He represented Wayanad (Kerala) in the Lower House of Parliament. (PTI)
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath after Supreme Court stays the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in 'Modi' surname defamation case: "I want to congratulate Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the SC stayed the conviction. After this decision, people's faith & trust in the judiciary will increase. I have full faith that the final decision will be in favour of Rahul Gandhi & democracy will be strengthened..." (ANI)
| On Supreme Court staying conviction of Rahul Gandhi in 'Modi' surname remark defamation case, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray says, "I think it is an appropriate order. If you see the judgement, the order today, it is very important that we have people who speak the truth coming back to the Lok Sabha. Politics of hate, of vengeance will not win in this country. We support this order..." (ANI)
Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge on Supreme Court staying conviction of Rahul Gandhi in 'Modi' surname remark defamation case "It is a joyous day for us, as it is a win for democracy, constitution & truth...I welcome SC's decision, it is an example that justice can be served...It is not just Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's win but the entire country's...He is a person who fights for truth, national interest, the rights of youth & the price rise in the country...Rahul Gandhi was disqualified within 24 hours. Let's see in how many hours is he reinstated..." (ANI)
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Supreme Court staying conviction of Rahul Gandhi in 'Modi' surname remark defamation case "We were overjoyed when the SC pronounced its decision. Rahul Gandhi's absence from the Parliament was felt. Through Point Of Information, I told the Chairman in the Parliament about the SC's decision & said that his membership should be reinstated at the earliest...Truth won today..." (ANI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses the media for the first time after Supreme Court stayed his conviction in 'Modi' surname remark defamation case.
He says, "Aaj nahi toh kal, kal nahi toh parson sachai ki jeet hoti hai. But my path is clear. I have clarity in my mind that what I have to do and what is my work. I thank the people who helped us. I also thank the people for their love and support."
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on Supreme Court staying conviction of Rahul Gandhi in 'Modi' surname remark defamation case
"SC's decision is democracy's win & all the conspiracies against Rahul Gandhi to disqualify him from Lok Sabha have failed. They wanted to keep him away from the Parliament because he raises questions...We welcome SC's decision & his disqualification must be revoked..." (ANI)
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on Supreme Court staying conviction of Rahul Gandhi in 'Modi' surname remark defamation case
"SC's decision is democracy's win & all the conspiracies against Rahul Gandhi to disqualify him from Lok Sabha have failed. They wanted to keep him away from the Parliament because he raises questions...We welcome SC's decision & his disqualification must be revoked..." (ANI)
Congress taunts Modi govt after SC relief for Rahul Gandhi.
"Come what may, my duty remains the same. Protect the idea of India," Rahul Gandhi tweets
After Supreme Court stays the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in 'Modi' surname defamation case, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says, "The SC's decision is a big relief for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The conspiracy against Rahul Gandhi has failed today...We met the Speaker & raised it in the Parliament that Rahul Gandhi should be allowed in the Parliament...Rahul Gandhi's disqualification must be revoked...I will also write to the Speaker..."
"Truth Alone Triumphs! We welcome the verdict by the Hon’ble Supreme Court giving relief to Shri @RahulGandhi. Justice has been delivered. Democracy has won. The Constitution has been upheld. BJP’s conspiratorial hounding of Shri Gandhi has been thoroughly exposed. Time for them to stop their malicious targeting of Opposition leaders. It is high time they respect the mandate given by the people and start governing the country, on which they have miserably failed in the last 10 years," Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted.
"The credit goes to the Supreme Court," says Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chairman, Democratic Progressive Azad Party, on Supreme Court staying the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in Modi surname remark case. (PTI)
"There were attempts to keep Rahul Gandhi away from the Parliament. It would have been repeated with other leaders in several states if this would have been successful," says RJD MP Manoj Jha on Supreme Court staying the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in Modi surname remark case. (PTI)
"This is 'supreme justice'. This is a victory of 'mohabbat ki dukan'" says former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat on Supreme Court staying the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in Modi surname remark case. (PTI)
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh says: "The Supreme Court judgment is a strong vindication of truth and justice. Despite the relentless efforts of the BJPs machinery, Rahul Gandhi has refused to bend, break or bow, choosing instead to place his faith in the judicial process. Let this be a lesson to the BJP and its acolytes: you can do your absolute worst but we will not back down."
"We respect the court's order. But we will continue our legal battle," says BJP leader and complainant in the case Purnesh Modi.
Congress's Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has met Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla to request him to reinstate Rahul Gandhi as a Member of Parliament in the light of the SC order.
Congress's Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has met Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla to request him to reinstate Rahul Gandhi as a Member of Parliament in the light of the SC order.
Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah hails SC decision.
Priyanka Gandhi quotes Gautam Buddha to congratulate Rahul Gandhi. She says: "Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate says truth and courage have won.
Businessman and Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law spoke to the Congress leader, who told him that he will work for the country with more strength and vigour after the SC order.
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says: "I will write a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker today itself. Satyameva Jayate [Truth shall prevail] is written in our Constitution and homes. Today, it has been proved that the conspiracy against Rahul Gandhi has failed." The Lok Sabha secretariat is awaiting the copy of the SC order before restoring Rahul Gandhi's membership."
Youth Congress leader BV Srinivas says that the entire nation had prayed for such a verdict. "This was a welcome order and has put the nation into a festive mood," he says. Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jairam Ramesh will address a media briefing at 4.15 PM today at the AICC HQ.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal says: "Justice has prevailed."
Supreme Court says no reason has been given by the trial court judge for imposing the maximum sentence, order of conviction needs to be stayed pending final adjudication.
Congress reacts to SC order.
Supreme Court, in an interim order, stays the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the criminal defamation case over 'Modi surname' remark.
Background
Rahul Gandhi defamation case HIGHLIGHTS: The Supreme Court has ordered a stay on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction and the two-year sentencing imposed by a Gujarat magistrate's court for his 'all thieves have Modi surname' remark. A bench bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai, PS Narasimha, and Sanjay Kumar, heard Gandhi's plea for a stay on his conviction. The Gujarat High Court earlier refused to stay his conviction in the criminal defamation case.
At the very outset, the Supreme Court had said that Rahul Gandhi would have to "make out an exceptional case" for any stay on conviction, reported legal news website Bar & Bench.
Appearing for Gandhi, senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that even the complainant BJP MLA Purnesh Modi had adopted his surname (Modi). "Not a single of the persons Gandhi had named during his speech have sued. Interestingly, everybody who is aggrieved in this very 'small' community in 13 crores, only people suing are BJP office-holders. This is very strange... In that 13 crore, there is no uniformity, homogeneity, identifiability, no boundary line," Singhvi was quoted as saying by legal news website Live Law. "In democracy we have dissent and disagreement. What we call 'shaleen [decent]' bhasha," he said.
While ordering the stay, the SC also said: "There is no doubt that utterances are not in good taste, person in public life is expected to exercise caution while making public speeches, says Supreme Court. As observed by this court while accepting his affidavit in the contempt petition, he [Rahul Gandhi] ought to have been more careful."
What Is The Modi Surname Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi?
In March, Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member subsequent to a Surat metropolitan magistrate's court sentencing him to a two-year jail term. This verdict was related to the 2019 case revolving around his statement "why do all thieves have the Modi surname?" Later, the Surat sessions court refused to halt the conviction in this matter.
The erstwhile Lok Sabha representative from Wayanad had made this statement during a rally in Karnataka prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. His comment targeted PM Modi due to the shared surname with absconding businessmen Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi, both involved in separate money laundering cases.
After his conviction, Rahul underwent disqualification as an MP on March 24, in accordance with a 2013 Supreme Court decree. As per this decree, any Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) automatically faces disqualification upon receiving a conviction leading to a sentence of two years or more.
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