New Delhi: Several people on a stage fell down in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur after the stage broke down. As per a report by news agency ANI, the party workers and leaders had organised a torch rally in the city to protest against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha when the stage collapsed apparently due to overcrowding.
Congress state president Mohan Markam also fell down from the stage when it snapped but no one was hurt in the incident, reported the news agency.
Congress leaders and workers have been staging protests in various parts of the country against the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he was found guilty in a criminal defamation case by a Surat court last month.
He was sentenced to two years of jail term but was later granted bail to appeal in a higher court within 30 days.
Today, the Congress leader will reach Surat to appeal against his conviction in a sessions court and as per his lawyer the matter will be heard today itself, reported PTI.
Rahul Gandhi will reach Surat at around 2 pm today where he will move the court and will be accompanied by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gahlot and Congress Rajya Sabha MP KC Venugopal are also expected to remain present.
The defamation case was filed against Rahul Gandhi on a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for the Congress leader's alleged remarks "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?"
Gandhi had made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019 during the Lok Sabha elections campaign.