Will approach HC, says Congress after court convicts Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday launched a scathing attack at the Narendra Modi-led government after a court convicted its MP Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case and said the party will challenge the decision in a Higher Court.

The former Congress president was convicted in a defamation case by a Surat court on Thursday for his “all thieves have Modi surname” remarks at a rally in Karnataka’s Kolar in 2019. The court sentenced him to two years in jail. However, he was granted bail.

“The Modi government sends ED (Enforcement Directorate), police, and imposes cases on political speeches. We will appeal in the Higher Court,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote in a tweet.

In an apparent reference to the court’s judgement, Rahul Gandhi while sharing one of the quotes of Mahatma Gandhi in a tweet wrote, “My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, non-violence the means to get it.”

Congress general secretary and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to the micro blogging site twitter and wrote, “The whole machinery is trying to supress the voice of Rahul Gandhi ji. My brother has never been afraid, nor will he be. The power of truth and love of crores of countrymen are with him.”

Echoing a similar sentiment, senior Congress leader and MP KC Venugopal in a tweet said, “Rahul Gandhi has always fought fearlessly against the ‘authoritarian’ BJP regime. This government can try all its dirty tactics, but they will not be able to silence us. We have full faith in our judiciary. But we will challenge this verdict, the truth will prevail!.”

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson and MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters said, “We believe that this is full of errors. It is ‘erroneous’ and unsustainable judgement . It will be challenged and we are hopeful that it will be stayed and ultimately quashed.”

Defending the Congress parliamentarian, Singhvi said, “This particular speech was made in the context of price rise and unemployment as the speech transcript shows. This was a political speech completely dealing with various public interest issues made in Karnataka’s Kolar.”