On March 23, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was found guilty in a criminal defamation case filed against him by Gujarat BJP leader Purnesh Modi. The Surat District Court held him guilty of making defamatory remarks against the entire Modi community, during a speech in which he referred to them as “thieves.” As Rahul Gandhi is a sitting MP from Wayanad, the conviction has sparked a legal debate on whether he will be disqualified from his Lok Sabha seat under Section 8(3) of The Representation of the People Act of 1951.
The Congress party has been lamenting the conviction, with some leaders displaying unwavering loyalty to the Gandhi family. One such leader, Renuka Chowdhury, has announced that she will not stand by silently while Rahul Gandhi faces humiliation and has vowed revenge against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She has declared her intention to file a defamation case against the PM for calling her “Surpanakha” in Parliament and even referred to him as a “classless megalomaniac.”
The verdict against Rahul Gandhi has created a stir in the political sphere, with many speculating about the future of the Congress leader’s political career. Meanwhile, the actions of Renuka Chowdhury have drawn criticism from some quarters, with many questioning the wisdom of retaliating against the Prime Minister in this manner.
Overall, the verdict against Rahul Gandhi and the subsequent reactions from Congress leaders have dominated headlines in the Indian media, with many speculating about the impact of this development on the political landscape of the country.