'We Have Differences With Congress But...': Kejriwal Leads Oppn Charge Against Rahul Gandhi's Jail Term
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was found guilty and sentenced to two years in jail in a four-year-old criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname.
New Delhi: Condemning the two-year jail term of Rahul Gandhi in a 2019 defamation case over his ‘Modi surname’ remarks, Opposition parties said a conspiracy is being hatched to target non-BJP leaders.
Taking to Twitter, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was the first to come out in support of Gandhi, wrote, “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.”
ग़ैर बीजेपी नेताओं और पार्टियों पर मुक़दमे करके उन्हें ख़त्म करने की साज़िश हो रही है
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 23, 2023
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
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)”
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
Calling Rahul Gandhi as the only person to compete with the NDA government, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said, “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.”
#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
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said “her brother has never been afraid” and will “continue to speak 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.”
डरी हुई सत्ता की पूरी मशीनरी साम, दाम, दंड, भेद लगाकर @RahulGandhi जी की आवाज को दबाने की कोशिश कर रही है।
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 23, 2023
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।
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the party will fight the case by sticking to law. “He has been granted bail. We knew from the beginning because they kept changing judges. We believe in law, and judiciary and we will fight against this as per law,” Kharge said.
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।
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) March 23, 2023
राजनैतिक दिवालियेपन की शिकार मोदी सरकार,
ED, पुलिस भेजती है
राजनैतिक भाषणों पर केस थोपती है।
हम Higher Court में अपील करेंगे।
Taking to Twitter, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav wrote, “Get the opposition leaders raided by ED, IT, CBI, even if things don't work, get baseless cases done in different cities under a heinous conspiracy so that no core stone is left unturned in headline management. This is a matter of grave concern for the Constitution, democracy, politics and the country.”
चक्रव्यूह रच विपक्षी नेताओं पर ED,IT, CBI से दबिश करवाओ फिर भी बात ना बने तो घिनौने षडयंत्र के अंतर्गत विभिन्न शहरों में आधारहीन मुकदमे करवाओ ताकि हैडलाइन मैनेजमेंट में कोई कोर कसर ना रह जाए। यह संविधान, लोकतंत्र, राजनीति और देश के लिए अतिगंभीर चिंता का विषय है।#RahulGandhi
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) March 23, 2023
DMK's TR Balu said the Surat court verdict makes it clear that "freedom of expression is under threat."
Notably, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was found guilty and sentenced to two years in jail in a four-year-old criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname during an election rally in Karnataka. Later, he was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow time for an appeal in higher court.
“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.
Congress Workers Stage Rail Roko In Tamil Nadu, MLAs Protest Outside Assembly
The Congress staged a rail roko in Kumbakonam and Virudhachalam in Tamil Nadu while the party lawmakers resorted to a "black band" protest in front of the State Assembly condemning the conviction of party leader Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case.
"There was no direct reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gandhi's election campaign. He had made a passing reference to those having a common surname,” news agency PTI quoted TNCC chief KS Alagiri, as saying.