Mehbooba fumes Gujarat Court rejects Rahul Gandhi’s plea for stay in conviction in defamation case
Mehbooba fumes Gujarat Court rejects Rahul Gandhi’s plea for stay in conviction in defamation case
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s efforts for a stay on his conviction in a defamation case goes in vain and dealts a massive blow to his hopes of reversing his disqualification as an MP
Hours following a session court in Gujarat’s Surat rejecting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s petition for a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti made allegations that the laws and probe agencies are being “abused to favour one party’s supremacy”. In a series of tweets, Mufti said that the Bharatiya Janata Party “hounding the opposition’s most prominent face and criminalising any and all forms of criticism reveals their true designs of establishing a BJP rashtra.
While dismissing Rahul’s application, the court attributed that his counsel failed to demonstrate that an “irreversible and irrevocable damage” is likely to be caused to him if he is denied the opportunity to contest the election under section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 on account of his conviction not being stayed.
The Congress leader was convicted in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks on ‘Modi’ surname amid an election campaign in Karnataka’s Kolar.
Mufti taking to her twitter handle tweeted that their last hope lies with the judici. Tragically they are witnessing the manner is which justice is delayed and how punishment is selectively meted out. Courts drag their feet on Article 370, Bilkis Bano and CAA, but fast track trivial cases of alleged ‘defamation’ adding that J&K was the first to bear the brunt of BJPs catastrophic unilateral decisions referring to the abrogation of Article 370 and downgrading the state into a Union territory.
And today, that fire is raging through India and threatens to engulf it in flames. Hope people of this nation comprehend the gravity of the situation and realise that the power to prevent this lies with them.
Although the BJP hailed the Surat court’s decision as a “victory” of the judiciary and the people, the Congress said it will continue to avail all options still available under the law. As per Gandhi’s lawyer Kirit Panwala the sessions court’s order would be challenged in Gujarat High Court.
News input KV Raman
