Modi Surname Defamation Case Highlights: Cong to launch 'Jan-Andolan' across India to protest Rahul's disqualification

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was on Friday disqualified from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a defamation case. The Wayanad MP's ouster, expectedly, sparked a political war of words between the grand old party and the ruling BJP. Here are the highlights from what went down.

Cong to launch 'Jan-Andolan' across India to protest Rahul's disqualification

The Congress on Friday said it will launch a 'Jan-Andolan' across India after Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a defamation case.

BJP has exposed state of Indian democracy via its actions against Rahul, says Tharoor

Rahul wouldn't have been disqualified if he apologised for remarks against Indian democracy, says Ramdas Athawale

Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Friday claimed Rahul Gandhi would not have been disqualified from Lok Sabha had he apologised for his alleged critical remarks about the Indian democracy.

Gandhi is a senior leader and was the president of the Congress, he should have known he should not speak "against the country" during a visit abroad, Athawale told reporters in Jammu. (PTI)

BJP suggests conspiracy within Congress in Rahul case

The BJP on Friday suggested that a conspiracy within the Congress might have played a role in its leaders not approaching a higher court for relief for Rahul Gandhi after his conviction as it had done so in the case of Pawan Khera within hours of the Assam Police arresting him.

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Congress workers protest in Wayanad against Rahul's disqualification

BJP's 'authoritarian rampage' against democracy evident, says Pinarayi Vijayan

Rahul a 'habitual loose cannon', says Anurag Thakur

Law applies to everyone, even 'entitled' Nehru-Gandhi family, says BJP leader

"The Nehru-Gandhi family suffers from sense of entitlement and feudal mindset, it should know that thelaw is equal for everyone," BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan said, hours after the Congress MP's disqualification from Parliament.

Rahul said he was 'unfortunately' an MP, he has now been relieved: Anurag Thakur

'No coincidence' says Jairam Ramesh, pointing out pace of Rahul's disqualification

Gehlot invokes Indira Gandhi, says Rahul's disqualification boosts 2024 poll prospects

BJP pushing India towards 'planned end to democracy', says Aaditya Thackeray

BJP targeting Rahul today, tomorrow it could be you (the public), warns Siddaramaiah

Will get a stay on Rahul's conviction, thereby removing basis of disqualification, says Cong

We will get a stay on the conviction against Rahul Gandhi, thereby removing the basis of the disqualification, says Congress leaderAbhishek Singhvi.

Rahul's disqualification to divert attention from inflation, unemployment, says Akhilesh

Rahul has spoken in the interest of public welfare repeatedly for all issues, be it political or economic. Whether it was demonetisation, GST and China, the government repels these topics and also doesn't allow anyone to speak on them: Abhishek Manu Singhvi

Immediate issuance of a disqualification for Rahul is questionable, says Abhishek Manu Singhvi

Though the conviction of Rahul Gandhi is by a court, the disqualification in Parliament has to be by the President of India. Before doing that, the President has to take a recommendation from the ECI. This was not done: Abhishek Manu Singhvi

"A complaint was filed in April 16, 2019 in Surat. The magistrate in one Mr Dave. In June 2021, Rahul Gandhi appears in the court to record his statement in person. In March 2022, the complainant files another plaint against Rahul. At that point, the complainant goes through the HC to get a stay on his own complaint. After a hiatus of 11 months, the complainant wakes up suddenly in April 2023, and pleads for vacation of his judgment. And then we get this judgement,"Manu Singhvi tells the media.

Congress briefs media

A Congress party briefing by Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jairam Ramesh is on.

Calling a thief a thief has become a crime in India, says Uddhav, slamming the 'murder of democracy'

Politics of vendetta being spearheaded by Modi govt, says Cong leader

Cong workers detained in Lucknow after protest against Rahul's disqualification

BJP leaders with criminal cases in cabinet, but Oppn targeted for speeches, says Mamata

'Democratic India an oxymoron now', says TMC's Abhishek Banerjee

BJP wanted to silence Rahul from the day he raised the Adani issue, says K C Venugopal

If action taken against Rahul for calling someone 'chor', we'll call them 'daaku', says Nana Patole

Rahul's disqualification shows 'anti-democratic, dictatorship' of BJP govt, says K C Venugopal

Senior Cong leaders to meet at 5 pm to discuss strategy to fight Rahul's disqualification

On the back of Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Parliament, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party will convene a meeting of senior leaders at 5 pm on Friday to discuss steps to fight Rahul's disqualification.

Cong to discuss strategy to fight Rahul's disqualification, says Kharge

Rahul's disqualification 'bodes ill' for Indian democracy, says 'stunned' Tharoor

'Conspiracy' won't hamper Rahul's fight to save democracy, says Congress after disqualification

Does BJP support the corrupt, asks Priyanka, citing several scams

Will fight Rahul's disqualification legally and politically, vows Congress

Rahul will prove to be BJP's nemesis, says NCP's Clyde Castro after Congress leader's disqualification

Parliament disqualifies Rahul Gandhi after court conviction

India's parliament on Friday disqualified opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi as a lawmaker after a lower court found him guilty of defamation and sentenced him to two years in prison, according to a parliament notice. (Reuters)

Rahul not being allowed to speak in Parliament, attempts being made to finish democracy: Kharge

PTI

BJP defending Nirav, Lalit Modi: Cong slams Nadda for criticising Rahul

Heavy security outside Congress HQ in Delhi as party workers protest against Rahul's conviction

Congress MPRahulGandhiarrives at Parliament House complex during Budget Session, in New Delhi, Friday, March 24, 2023. Credit: PTI Photo

Can't blame all Gandhi surnames just because Rahul 'insulted' Indian democracy: Rijiju

AsRahulGandhi's conviction triggered a political slugfest, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday took a fresh dig at him saying one cannot blame allGandhisurnames just because the Congress leader "insulted" Indian democracy, its armed forces and country's institutions.

RahulGandhi's conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court has been slammed by opposition parties, including the AAP, which rallied behind the former Congress chief and accused the ruling party of "hatching a conspiracy to eliminate" its political opponents by prosecuting them.

PTI

Congress legislators stage a protest after a Surat court convicted Congress leaderRahulGandhiin a criminal defamation case on Thursday, in Patna, Friday, March 24, 2023. Credit: PTI Photo

BJP indulging in caste politics: Kharge hits back at Nadda for criticising Rahul

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday refuted BJP chief J P Nadda's allegation thatRahulGandhicompared OBC communities to thieves and accused the ruling party of indulging in "caste politics".

Amid a political fight between the BJP and the Congress followingGandhi's conviction in a defamation case over the "Modi surname" remarks, Nadda alleged that "lies, personal slander and negative politics is integral" to his politics.

PTI

'Aware of reports on Rahul Gandhi's jail sentence': Spokesperson for UN chief

The United Nations is aware of the reports about Congress leaderRahulGandhi's two-year jail sentence and that his party plans to appeal the verdict, a spokesperson for the UN chief Antonio Guterres has said.

Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, was responding to a question at a press briefing here on Thursday on whether Guterres was “worried about democracy” in India.

"I can say that we're aware of the reports regarding the case ofRahulGandhi. We understand that his party does plan to appeal the decision. That's as much as I can say on that at this stage,” Haq said.

PTI

K'taka police detain DKS, Cong leaders protesting against Surat Court verdict against Rahul

Kharge holds meeting with opposition leaders day after Rahul's conviction

Rahul Gandhi has insulted people, country, democracy: BJP

Legal processes are used far too often for political ends: Sibal on Rahul's conviction

A day afterRahulGandhiwas sentenced in a 2019 criminal defamation case, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday said legal processes are used far too often for political ends and both the process and the outcome are "bizarre".

PTI

Tamil Nadu CM calls Rahul Gandhi's process anti-democratic

Security deployment at Vijay Chowk as Cong to protest against verdict on Rahul Gandhi

Rahul's behaviour shows Bharat Todo, not Bharat Jodo: Bhupender Yadav

If you look at precedent, Rahul Gandhi an habitual offender: Pralhad Joshi

Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday claimed that during the course of the inquiry, the Surat court, which sentenced Rahul Gandhi to a two-year jail term in a criminal defamation case, asked the Congress leader 'again and again if he will apologise, but he refused. Joshi also alleged that when the court pronounced the verdict, Gandhi was not apologetic, describing the Congress MP as a habitual offender.

Congress calls urgent party meeting over Rahul Gandhi's jail sentence

The Congress has called an urgent meeting of its steering committee members, PCC presidents, CLP leaders and frontal organization chiefs at party headquarter in Delhi at 5 pm today. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge will preside over the meeting.

Sword of disqualification hangs over Rahul Gandhi

A sword of disqualification hangsover Congress MP Rahul Gandhi following his conviction and sentence of two-year jail in a defamation case by a Surat court on Thursday.

The Supreme Court in a landmark verdict in the Lily Thomas case in 2013 declared that an MP or an MLA would stand disqualified immediately upon conviction. In his case, the Surat court suspended the sentence but he would have to seek a stay on his conviction before an appellate court in order to retain his membership of Lok Sabha.

Congress to hold protests across India from March 24 in solidarity with Rahul

Congress will start countrywide protests from Friday in solidarity with its top leader Rahul Gandhi facing a jail term in a defamation case, which they claim is “politically motivated”.

The party MPs will also hold a protest in Vijay Chowk, just outside Parliament House, while attempts will be made to meet President Droupadi Murmu to impress upon her about the developments, sources said on Thursday night.