On Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized the Congress Party after learning that various Congress leaders would be accompanying Rahul Gandhi to Surat, where he will appeal his conviction in a defamation case from 2019. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra took a dig at the party, saying that “they will be creating mayhem in the name of appealing against the verdict” and questioned whether they were trying to “pressurise the judiciary”.
Background
Rahul Gandhi was found guilty in the criminal case for his ‘Modi-surname’ remark during the 2019 poll campaign in Karnataka and was given a 2-year jail sentence but was later given a 30-day bail to appeal in a higher court. 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, who had served as an MP from Wayanad in Kerala, made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019, during the Lok Sabha elections campaign.
Who is Accompanying Rahul Gandhi?
Rahul Gandhi will reach Surat 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 will also be present.
Implications
Following his conviction, the Congress leader was disqualified as a member of Lok Sabha on March 24. The presence of Congress leaders at Rahul Gandhi’s appeal hearing could indicate the importance of the case for the party, given the upcoming elections. The BJP’s criticism suggests that the party will not be shy in highlighting Rahul Gandhi.
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