Defamation case: Gujarat HC dismisses Rahul Gandhi's plea; Congress to explore all legal options

New Delhi: The Congress on Friday said it will study the Gujarat High Court verdict on party leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a defamation case, and will explore all available legal options.

The statement of the grand old party comes shortly after the Gujarat HC refused to stay Rahul's conviction in the defamation case.

"We will study the Gujarat HC verdict on Rahul Gandhi ji’s conviction and explore all available legal options," said Congress general secretary in-charge Organisation KC Venugopal, referring to the HC's judgement.

Attacking the ruling BJP, Venugopal wrote in a tweet, "Rahul ji is a fierce voice that takes the Modi government head-on. No force can silence him; the truth will triumph, and justice will ultimately prevail. Every patriotic Indian is in support of Rahul Ji in this fight."

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also took to the microblogging site and wrote, "Rahul Gandhi ji is fighting the battle of truth and in the interest of the people in front of this arrogant government."

"The arrogant government is trying every trick to suppress the truth. It is adopting all the means to distract from the questions related to the interests of the public," Vadra said, attacking the ruling dispensation.

She added, "He (Rahul Gandhi) is ready to pay any cost, and despite all the attacks and tactics of the arrogant BJP government, like a true patriot, he has not shied away from raising questions related to the public. The truth will win. The voice of the public will win."

Earlier, Congress general secretary in charge of communication Jairam Ramesh wrote in a tweet, "We have noted the verdict of the single-judge bench of the Gujarat High Court on the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi. The reasoning of the Hon'ble Judge is being studied, as it should be. The judgement only redoubles our resolve to pursue the matter further."

In March, Rahul was convicted in a defamation case by a Surat court for his alleged "all thieves have Modi's surname" remarks at a rally in Karnataka’s Kolar in 2019. The court had sentenced him to two years in jail.

Later, he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha as a member following his conviction by the court. (UNI)