New Delhi [India], August 4 (ANI): Hours after the Supreme Court stayed the conviction of former Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in the ‘Modi surname’ defamation case, Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha reiterated that he will be introducing the Decriminalisation of Defamation Bill, 2023, to repeal Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). “I’ll be introducing a Private Bill titled The Decriminalization of Defamation Bill, 2023 to repeal Sections 499 & 500 of the India Penal Code to bring it in line with international jurisprudence on defamation & repeal these relics of colonial past to ensure fearless discourse,” Raghav Chadha tweeted.
Raghav Chadha hailed the Supreme Court’s stay on Rahul Gandhi‘s conviction and said that its intervention “reinforces people’s trust” in the Indian democracy and the judicial system.
“The Hon’ble Supreme Court’s intervention in an unjust defamation case against @RahulGandhi
reinforces people’s trust in our democracy and judicial system. Criminal Defamation has become a tool to suppress the voice of the opposition, which holds the Govt accountable,” he wrote in his tweet. The Supreme Court in an interim order on Friday stayed the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in the criminal defamation case over the ‘Modi surname’ remark.
After his conviction in the case, Gandhi was declared disqualified as MP from Kerala’s Wayanad on March 24 following notification of the Lok Sabha Secretariat. The apex court, while granting relief to Gandhi, said the ramifications of the trial court’s order are wide.
Not only was Gandhi’s right to continue in public life affected but also that of the electorate who elected him, the bench said. Congress leader was sentenced to two years in jail in a defamation case filed by Purnesh Modi. He was disqualified as MP following his conviction.
At a rally in Karnataka’s Kolar in April 2019, Rahul Gandhi, in a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, “How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?” (ANI)
“Everything going in right direction now…”: Rajasthan CM Gehlot on SC’s verdict in Rahul Gandhi’s defamation case
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], August 4 (ANI): Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Friday said that everything is going in the right direction adding that Congress will return to power in Rajasthan after Supreme Court stayed the conviction on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in ‘Modi surname’ remark. “After independence, Rahul Gandhi is the first person who got a full sentence of two years in a defamation case. Today, the Supreme Court rejected the verdict of the lower court. Everything is going in the right direction now…Congress will return to power in Rajasthan”, CM Gehlot said. The state assembly elections in Rajasthan are due to be held later this year.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the criminal defamation case over the ‘Modi surname’ remark while saying that person in public life is expected to exercise caution while making public speeches. After his conviction in the case, Gandhi was declared disqualified as MP from Kerala’s Wayanad on March 24 following notification of the Lok Sabha Secretariat. Congress leader was sentenced to two years in jail on March 23 under sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in a case filed by Purnesh Modi.
