Rahul Gandhi defamation case live update: Congress says it will launch 'Jan-Andolan' across country over Rahul's disqualification

As part of the protest against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Loksabha, Wayanad District Congress Committee to observe 'Black Day' today: ND Appachan, President of District Congress Committee, Wayanad

Congress says time for party to build opposition unity in 'systematic way'

The Congress welcomed the statements of opposition leaders condemning Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha and said it was now time for the party to take on the job of building the opposition unity in a "systematic way". The grand old party also said it has been coordinating with various opposition parties in Parliament and now the coordination has to be outside the two Houses as well.

Youth Congress, BJP youth wing activists clash in Raipur

Activists of the Indian Youth Congress and the BJP's youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) on Friday clashed here following protests over Rahul Gandhi losing his Lok Sabha membership. Activists from both sides as well as some police personnel got injured as there was stone pelting, a police official said. Youth Congress workers allegedly blackened the posters of BJP leaders at the saffron party's office in Ekatma Parisar on Friday evening, he said.

The political slugfest over Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a defamation case intensified on Friday after the Congress leader was disqualified from Lok Sabha due to his sentencing. Congress alleged that there had been "unthinkable assaults" on the freedom of speech with people being told that they will face the worst possible consequences -- civil, criminal, incarceration, intimidation and harassment.

Police resort to baton charge against Kerala Youth Congress workers holding a protest march to Raj Bhawan in Thiruvananthapuram

Opposition holds protest march alleging 'democracy in danger', 40 MPs detained

Forty opposition MPs, including those from the Congress, were detained on Friday as they took out a protest march from Parliament House, alleging that democracy is in "danger" and demanding a JPC probe into the Adani issue.Prominent leaders, including K C Venugopal, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, K Suresh, Manickam Tagore, Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammed Javed, were stopped by the police and detained at Vijay Chowk here for violating prohibitory orders, the opposition said.

Congress says it will launch 'Jan-Andolan' across country

"BJP is rattled by Bharat Jodo Yatra becoming a movement, Congress questioning on Adani issue. Congress welcomes statement of support of all opposition leaders, we should now take issue of opposition unity forward in systematic way," Jairam Ramesh said after Congress's strategy meeting.

Conspiracy within Congress in not going to higher court for Rahul, suggests BJP

The BJP on Friday suggested that a conspiracy within the Congress might have played a role in its leaders not approaching a higher court for relief for Rahul Gandhi after his conviction as it had done so in the case of Pawan Khera within hours of the Assam Police arresting him. "Law is equal for everyone," Pradhan told reporters at a press conference, accusing Gandhi of "abusing" backward castes with his "thieves" jibe aimed at "Modi surname".

Rahul Gandhi's disqualification against basis tenets of Constitution, says Sharad Pawar

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as Lok Sabha MP was against the basic tenets of the Constitution and was a "condemnable" move which highlighted the curtailment of democratic values, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said. The NCP chief also referred to the disqualification of his party MP from Lakshadweep Mohammed Faizal P P following the latter's conviction in an attempt to murder case. Faizal's conviction was later suspended by the Kerala high court.

Black day in history of democracy in India: KCR on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification

"Today is a black day in the history of democracy in India, he said, adding that all those who want democracy to flourish should condemn the NDA government's misdeeds. He alleged that it was "blameworthy" that the Modi government was not only misusing Constitutional institutions but was also using Parliament, the apex platform for democracy, for its "despicable actions".

Bengal Congress holds protest; to put up road, rail blockade on Saturday

Holding a protest gathering in central Kolkata, the Congress in West Bengal on Friday said that it will put up rail and road blockades on Saturday against the disqualification of former party president Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha. Terming the disqualification as an example of the vengeful politics of the BJP, state Congress leader Ashutosh Chatterjee asserted that it is a “shameful act” on the part of the saffron party.

Congress leaders meet at AICC in Delhi over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as MP and the party's demand for JPC probe on the Adani issue.

Son of a martyred PM called 'Mir Jafar', hurled insults but Rahul won't bow down: Priyanka Gandhi slams BJP

In a series of tweets, Priyanka Gandhi launched an all-out attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying in a tweet in Hindi, "Narendra Modi ji, your sycophants called the son of a martyred prime Minister a traitor, Mir Jafar. One of your chief minister raised questions as to who is the father of Rahul Gandhi? Following the custom of Kashmiri Pandits, a son wears 'pagdi' after his father's death, maintaining his family's tradition.""Insulting the whole family and the Kashmiri Pandit community, you asked in Parliament why we don't keep the name Nehru. But no judge gave you a sentence of two years. Did not disqualify you from the Parliament," she said.

Hours after his disqualification from Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said that he is fighting for the people of the country and is ready to pay any price for that. Meanwhile, BJP's Dharmendra Pradhan said that the Nehru-Gandhi family suffers from sense of entitlement and feudal mindset, it should know law equal for everyone.

Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as per law which says membership is nullified from time of conviction. Was Congress serious on Rahul's membership; it approached court in Pawan Khera's case within hours of action but not in his case: BJP

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification.

Rahul a habitual loose cannon; insulted PM Modi repeatedly: BJP

Rahul is an epitome of unparliamentary behaviour: Thakur

The judgement is against the the mindset of 'abuse politics': BJP on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification

It was Rahul's habit to use unparliamentary language to attack his opponents, says the senior BJP leader

Forget introducing any private member's bill during his tenure as MP, Rahul in fact tore an ordinance in 2013 publicly. He thinks that he is above the law and this country: Thakur

BJP takes dig at Rahul over Lok Sabha disqualification

Rahul used to say "unfortunately I am an MP". Now, he is free from his responsibilities, says Union minister Anurag Thakur

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee condemns Rahul Gandhi's disqualification

“In PM Modi's New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP ! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches," the fiery TMC Supremo said in a tweet. "Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy,” Banerjee, added.

Confident that we will get a stay of the conviction, says Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi

Congress on Friday condemned Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha and said that the party will "fight the battle legallyand politically." "We are confident that we will get a stay of the conviction which will remove the very basis of this disqualification. We have full faith in the law. We believe we will emerge victorious in the near future," Singhvi said while addressing a press conference.

We'll fight strongly against this attack. Yesterday it was 'Shaheed Diwas', and today this political sacrifice by Rahul Gandhi (disqualification as MP), this will be a turning point in the country and the country will win the fight to save democracy: Congress leader Harish Rawat

Rahul Gandhi disqualified from LS; Cong says will fight 'legally and politically', BJP terms action 'lawful'

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case.

Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction.

"Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat...Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March, 2023," the notification read.

This is a Court order, everyone should accept it. The Court convicted him. The manner in which he insulted a community at the time of the elections...this has sent out a good message across the country: BJP MP Vinod Sonkar on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as an MP

Union Min Anurag Thakur says, "Rahul Gandhi is on a bail in a corruption case of National Herald...He is habitual of going far from truth in Parliament...I think Rahul Gandhi believes he's above Parliament, law, country, he's privileged & Gandhi family can do anything."

'Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala, stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 23 March 2023...,' reads the LS Secretariat letter.

Rahul Gandhi - Congress MP from Wayanad, Kerala - disqualified as a Member of Lok Sabha following his conviction in the criminal defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark.

Congress party's Rahul Gandhi disqualified as a Member of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction in the criminal defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark, March 23.

Shri KC Venugopal, Shri Adhir Chowdhury, Shri K. Suresh, Shri Manickam Tagore, Shri Imran Pratapgarhi, Shri Ravneet Singh Bittu, Prof Jai Kumar, Dr. V Sivadasan, Dr Amar Singh, Shri Rajmohan Unnithan, Mohd Jawaid, Shri Jasbir Singh Dimpa, Shri Thirunavukarasar, Dr Vineet Punia, Shri Manoj Tyagi detained.

Delhi police detained opposition MPs who were protesting at Vijay Chowk demanding a JPC inquiry into the Adani Group issue.

Democracy in Danger" banner at the protests by Congress and Opposition parties at Vijay Chowk in Delhi.

They are not letting Rahul Gandhi to speak. It means they will continue to loot & you keep your mouth shut. Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter today asking permission to speak but he was not allowed. If it continues like this, autocracy & dictatorship will come in this country: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

Delhi High Court seeks response of NCPCR on a plea filed against Rahul Gandhi in relation to his tweet reportedly revealing the identity of the relatives of a rape and murder victim in 2021

Rahul Gandhi not being allowed to speak in Parliament, attempts being made to finish democracy: Congress chief Kharge

We are holding a protest here to demand JPC. PM Modi wants to hide something from the people. Lalit Modi, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi looted crores of rupees from the government and fled from this country and PM Modi is not speaking about them: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

We're protesting to reiterate our demand for JPC into Adani issue: Cong chief Mallikarjun Kharge at opposition leaders' protest

Rahul Gandhi attends meeting of Congress MPs

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday attended the meeting of Congress MPs at the party office in the Parliament premises. This comes a day after the Wayanad MP was convicted by a Surat case in a 2019 defamation case.

Legal processes are used far too often for political ends: Sibal on Rahul's conviction

A day after Rahul Gandhi was sentenced in a 2019 criminal defamation case, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday said legal processes are used far too often for political ends and both the process and the outcome are "bizarre".

A court in Surat on Thursday sentenced Gandhi to two years in the case filed against him over his "Modi surname" remarks. The court also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

Reacting to the development, Sibal said, "Rahul Gandhi, sentenced for 2 years for defamation. Legal processes are used far too often for political ends! Both the process and the outcome is bizarre."

As Rahul Gandhi's conviction triggered a political slugfest, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday took a fresh dig at him saying one cannot blame all Gandhi surnames just because the Congress leader "insulted" Indian democracy, its armed forces and country's institutions.Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court has been slammed by opposition parties, including the AAP, which rallied behind the former Congress chief and accused the ruling party of "hatching a conspiracy to eliminate" its political opponents by prosecuting them."We can't blame all Gandhi surnames just because Rahul Gandhi insulted Indian democracy, our Armed forces & India's Institutions.Rahul Gandhi made very derogatory remark and disgraced an entire OBC Community. Shockingly, some Congress leaders are trying to defend it," Rijiju said in a tweet.

Delhi: Rahul Gandhi attends the meeting of Congress MPs at the Congress Parliamentary Office in Parliament. Party chief and LoP in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge & UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also present.