Asia Two years in jail for Indian opposition leader for insulting prime minister

Rahul Gandhi, India's main opposition leader, was sentenced to two years in prison on Thursday for comments he made at a 2019 rally about Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Asia Two years in jail for Indian opposition leader for insulting prime minister

Rahul Gandhi, India's main opposition leader, was sentenced to two years in prison on Thursday for comments he made at a 2019 rally about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A court in the west of the country found him guilty of defamation, although he has been released on bail and the sentence was suspended for 30 days to give him time to prepare an appeal.

"Why are all thieves called Modi, Modi, Modi...?" That was the comment that may engulf the career of Modi's great scourge and leader of the Congress Party, which currently controls just under 10% of the seats in the lower house of Parliament.

The politician tweeted a quote from Mahatma Gandhi after the court found him guilty. "My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, non-violence is the means to achieve it."

The sentence has caused a political earthquake in India. General elections are held next year, where Modi, whose popularity remains high despite the Hindu nationalist turn of recent years, is expected to revalidate a third term.

Gandhi, 52, was in court in the state of Gujarat, the birthplace of the prime minister, who filed the criminal case a couple of years ago. The convicted man's lawyer, BM Mangukiya, said his client had no intention of insulting anyone.

"When the magistrate asked Gandhi what he had to say in his defense, he assured that he was fighting to expose corruption in the country. His comments were not intended to hurt or insult any community," the lawyer said.

Gandhi's party defended its leader, arguing that the complaint had gotten there due to pressure from the Bharatiya Janata (BJP), the ruling party, which is a "cowardly and dictatorial" government.

Many Indian political analysts have opined in recent hours that the condemnation of Gandhi, who, although he does not currently hold the presidency of his party, is his most visible face, could lead to his disqualification and prevent him from contesting the 2024 elections with Modi. .

Modi's government has been accused by critics of using defamation law to silence critics. The censorship, and nothing hidden, of the prime minister is present throughout the country, but it is also true that Gandhi faces two other charges of defamation and also has already paid a bail to avoid going to jail for a money laundering case.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project