New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday will appeal his conviction in a criminal defamation case in a higher court in Surat.
On 23 March, a magistrate’s court had handed him a two-year jail term that led to his disqualification from Parliament.
While convicting Rahul for a comment he made on the “Modi” surname in 2019, the court had also granted him 30 days to appeal in a higher court.
In Surat’s sessions court, Rahul will plead for the previous order be set aside, and ask for a stay on his conviction. This will then restore his Lok Sabha membership from Wayanad.
Congress chief ministers Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will accompany Rahul to court, news agency ANI reported. As will his sister Priyanka Gandhi.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has termed Rahul’s in-person visit a “childish attempt to bring pressure on the appellate court”.
He tweeted: “Rahul Gandhi might be going to Surat to file an Appeal. It is not required of a convict to go personally to file an Appeal. Generally, no convict goes personally. His going personally with a motley group of leaders and aides accompanying him is only a drama… What Rahul Gandhi is doing is also a childish attempt to bring pressure on the appellate court. All courts in the country are immune from such tactics.”
Central minister Anurag Thakur pointed out that no one had accompanied party leaders P.V. Narasimha Rao, P. Chidambaram and D.K. Shivakumar when they were sentenced to jail. “But today… chief ministers have left their work to do this (accompany Rahul to court). Has one family become bigger than the Constitution, the Parliament, the country?” he asked.
#WATCH | India won't tolerate the insult of backwards…Earlier, PV Narasimha Rao, P Chidambaram, DK Shivakumar went to jail too, how many Congress people went with them, is one family bigger than the country?: Union min Anurag Thakur pic.twitter.com/UXKxPwCPKY
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2023
Meanwhile, Congress’ Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu — who went to Surat Monday — refuted Kiren Rijiju’s comments. He said it was wrong to think that anyone could pressure the judiciary.
“Congress is the main Opposition party. And Rahul is its biggest leader. There is no harm in going with him. This is not a drama. The law will do its job. We will stand with Rahul. Just like family members do. Congress is like a family.”
#WATCH | No one can pressurise judiciary. We are going to Surat. Congress is the main opposition party and Rahul Gandhi is big leader of our party. This is not a political drama. We stand by him…: Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu pic.twitter.com/XBeOSncIVx
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2023
Also read: BJP has done a huge favour to Rahul Gandhi — gifted him his lost credibility