The BJP slammed the Congress’ criticism of the conviction of Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi in a case of criminal defamation by a Surat court on Thursday, asking whether the Opposition party wanted Mr. Gandhi to have “complete freedom to abuse” others.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP’s headquarters after news broke of Mr. Gandhi’s conviction and sentencing for two years in a case of criminal defamation, former Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for questioning the court’s order by reportedly noting that there were several changes in the judges hearing the matter.
“Does the Congress want Rahul Gandhi to have complete freedom to abuse people? There is rule of law in the country and it will prevail,” he said.
‘Respect judiciary’
Making such comments shows that the Congress does not believe in the judiciary, Mr. Prasad said, asking, “Does it want to keep even the judiciary in its pocket?”
He also invoked senior BJP leader L.K. Advani’s experience to urge more respect for the judiciary. “Despite being deputy Prime Minister, Advaniji went to court, BJP leaders faced cases. Government was of the NDA but cases against BJP leaders weren’t withdrawn,” Mr. Prasad said.
Asked whether Mr. Gandhi would be disqualified from the Lok Sabha, Mr. Prasad said that it was for Speaker Om Birla to decide.
‘Citing caste’
A court in Surat in Gujarat on Thursday sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him for his alleged remark asking, “How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname”, on the basis of a complaint lodged by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi.
Mr. Prasad said that Mr. Gandhi’s comments had insulted people whose surname was Modi. He asserted that it was certainly defamatory, adding that Mr. Gandhi was insulting people by citing their caste.
