New Delhi, Aug 4 : The Congress celebrated the Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, which stayed the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in a 2019 defamation case, viewing it as a powerful vindication of truth and justice. They asserted that no force could silence the voice of the people and described the ruling as a “victory of love over hate.”
Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, expressed his appreciation for the verdict on Twitter, highlighting Rahul Gandhi’s unwavering faith in the judicial process despite the relentless efforts of the BJP’s machinery. He conveyed the message that the Congress would persist in exposing the government’s failures and upholding constitutional ideals, regardless of any challenges posed by the ruling party.
K C Venugopal, Congress’ general secretary of organization, also hailed the verdict on Twitter, stating that justice had prevailed and emphasizing that the people’s voice could not be silenced.
Congress’ tweet in Hindi celebrated the victory of love over hate with the slogan “Satyamev Jayate – Jai Hind.”
Randeep Surjewala, another Congress general secretary, expressed his contentment with the ruling, affirming that justice had been served, and the truth’s roar would echo in the halls of democracy.
The three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices B R Gavai, P S Narasimha, and Sanjay Kumar, acknowledged that Rahul Gandhi’s remarks were not in good taste and emphasized the need for caution in public speeches for individuals in public life. The court decided to stay the conviction pending final adjudication, noting that the trial judge did not provide reasons for imposing the maximum sentence.
The Supreme Court heard Rahul Gandhi’s plea challenging the Gujarat High Court’s verdict, which had dismissed his plea seeking a stay on his conviction in the defamation case over his “Modi surname” remark. The case was filed by former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi in 2019 in response to Rahul Gandhi’s statement during an election rally in Kolar, Karnataka, where he questioned the prevalence of the surname “Modi” among thieves.
