Rahul Gandhi defamation case live updates: The case was filed against Gandhi on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for remarks he had made at a Lok Sabha election rally in Karnataka’s Kolar on April 13, 2019
“Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat in C.C./ 18712/2019, Shri Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023 in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” the Lok Sabha notice read.
WILL FIGHT LEGALLY, SAYS CONGRESS
Reacting to the disqualification, Congress said, “This is outrageous and truth shall prevail.”
“The day Rahul Gandhi raised questions against Adani, PM, this type of conspiracy was started to silence Rahul Gandhi. It’s a clear case of the anti-democratic, dictatorship attitude of BJP govt,” said Congress MP KC Venugopal.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the BJP has tried all ways to disqualify Rahul Gandhi but Congress would continue their demand for a JPC probe into the Adani group issue.
“They (BJP) tried all ways to disqualify him. They don’t want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. We’ll continue to demand JPC, If needed we’ll go to jail to save democracy,” Congress chief Kharge said.
Irked by his brother’s disqualification, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra too took to Twitter and asked if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is supporting the corrupts?
“Nirav Modi scam – Rs 14,000 crore; Lalit Modi scam – Rs 425 crore; Mehul Choksi scam – Rs 13,500 crore…Why has the BJP come to the rescue of those who looted the country’s money? Why is it running away from investigation? Cases are brought against those who raise questions. Is the BJP supporting corrupts?” Priyanka Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.
“I’m stunned by this action and by its rapidity, within 24 hours of the court verdict and while an appeal was known to be in process. This is politics with the gloves off and it bodes ill for our democracy,” wrote Thiruvanathapuram MP Shashi Tharoor.