Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP as a result of his conviction in a defamation case is the subject of a statewide “maun satyagraha” being organised by the Congress. According to Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot, the BJP has planned an attack on former Lok Sabha member Rahul Gandhi because he “fearlessly speaks for democracy.” He was addressing the crowd while the Congress staged a “maun satyagraha” (silent protest).
“A conspiracy is being hatched (by BJP) against someone (Rahul Gandhi) who speaks for democracy and tells the truth. This one-day ‘maun vrat‘ (vow of silence) is being held to make the public aware,” Pilot said in Jaipur, Rajasthan. As the party participates in “maun satyagraha” in opposition to Rahul Gandhi’s exclusion from the House of Representatives following his conviction in a defamation case.
As a result of the Gujarat High Court affirming the Sessions Court’s conviction as “just, proper, and legal” last week, the 2019 defamation case against Rahul Gandhi has once again come into the spotlight. As a result, the Congress made the decision to organise the national “maun satyagraha” in support of Rahul Gandhi and in opposition to the BJP. KC Venugopal, the general secretary of the Congress, earlier stated in a statement: “We believe that the truth, and our commitment for the genuine welfare of every Indian, speaks loud and clear, no matter what tactics the BJP-RSS will deploy against us or our leaders. India will not allow such fascist forces to go on for too long.”
The BJP poked fun at the Congress after the Gujarat High Court’s ruling, stating that the party should “train Rahul Gandhi to speak properly” and keep an eye on its leader. “It has become a chronic habit of Rahul Gandhi to abuse, defame, and almost shower the worst kind of abuses against eminent leaders and organisations,” BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad stated. Rahul Gandhi was found guilty on March 23 and given a two-year prison sentence after being found guilty of violating Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500 (criminal defamation) in a case brought by BJP Gujarat MLA Purnesh Modi in 2019.