On Thursday, a court in Surat, Gujarat, found Congress leader Rahul Gandhi guilty and sentenced him to two years in prison in a 2019 criminal defamation case. The case was filed by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi, who accused Mr. Gandhi of making derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname during a rally in Kolar, Karnataka, before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Mr. Gandhi had questioned how all "thieves" have the common surname "Modi," referring to fugitive businessmen Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi who share the same surname as the Prime Minister.
Although the court granted bail to Mr. Gandhi, his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal the verdict. The Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad took to Twitter and quoted Mahatma Gandhi in his first comment after the verdict, stating that his religion is based on truth and non-violence.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed her support for her brother, tweeting that the power of truth and the love of millions of countrymen are with him. She added that scared rulers are trying to suppress his voice, but he will continue to speak the truth and raise the voice of the people.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Gandhi arrived in Surat for the verdict and was received by top leaders of the Congress's Gujarat unit. Supporters and party members also showed up in various parts of the city to express their support for Mr. Gandhi, with posters calling him the "Lion of India" and placards stating that the Congress will not bow before the dictatorship of the BJP.
