Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to appear in court Monday to appeal a criminal conviction for mocking the Prime Minister’s surname that saw Gandhi expelled from Parliament.
India's opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi arrives at a court in Surat, India, Thursday, March 23, 2023. Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to appear in court Monday to appeal a criminal conviction for mocking the Prime Minister's surname that saw Gandhi expelled from Parliament, dealing a huge blow to his Congress Party ahead of general elections next year.
Gandhi is flying from the capital, New Delhi, to Surat, a city in India's Gujarat state, today to appear in a local court where the opposition leader is expected to seek a suspension or temporary stay of his conviction, his lawyers told the Press Trust of India news agency. A man who shares the prime minister’s surname, which is common in his home state of Gujarat, accused Gandhi of defamation over a 2019 speech in which he asked, “Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname?” Gandhi then referred to three well-known, and unrelated Modis, in the speech: a fugitive Indian diamond tycoon, a cricket executive banned from the Indian Premier League, and the prime minister.
Gandhi was convicted on March 23 and expelled from Parliament the next day, sparking opposition lawmakers to rally to his defense and call his expulsion a new low for India’s constitutional democracy. Gandhi was given bail for 30 days. Under Indian law, a criminal conviction with a prison sentence of two years or more is grounds for expulsion from Parliament. If Gandhi’s conviction is not suspended or overturned by a higher court, he could face prison and will likely not be able to contest national elections in 2024.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rahul Gandhi to appeal jail sentenceIndian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi will appeal a two-year jail sentence in a defamation case brought against him by lawmaker from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), local media reported on Sunday.
Read more »
India's Gandhi to appeal against defamation conviction on 'multiple grounds'Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi will on Monday lodge an appeal against his conviction for defamation, his lawyer said, hoping to overturn a judgement that resulted in his expulsion from parliament a year before a general election is due.
Read more »
India opposition leader Gandhi to appeal jail sentence in defamation caseA lower court sentenced the 52-year-old scion of the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty and leader of the Congress party to two years in jail on charges of defamation and disqualified him as a lawmaker
Read more »
It's UConn: Aztecs will play Huskies on Monday night for national championshipTitle game between first-time SDSU, blue-blood Connecticut set for 6:20 p.m.; game will air on CBS, 760-AM
Read more »
First Alert Forecast: Bright and chilly Sunday, better MondayFirst Alert Weather: After Saturday's stormy finish, we're in much better shape today! Despite the sunshine, it'll be much colder. Watch JohnElliottTV's forecast.
Read more »
Powerful winds will make driving a challenge Monday in parts of eastern San Diego CountyThe NWS also says the winds will be strong along the coast and will swirl through Petco Park when the Padres host the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Read more »