Rahul Gandhi gets 2 years for defamation of Modi

(23 Mar 2023) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVE: New Delhi - 4 September 2022 1. Wide of Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi waving to supporters from stage and greeting leaders on stage 2. Wide of stage and crowd 3. Mid of Gandhi seated alongside Congress leaders 4. Congress party workers and supporters waving to Gandhi 5. Wide of crowd at rally, man waving Congress party flag 6. Mid of man waving Congress party flag 7. Mid of people shouting slogan (Hindi) "Raise your voice (against unemployment, price rises)" 8. Various of Gandhi addressing Congress workers and supporters at rally ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVE: New Delhi - 24 December 2022 6. Top shot of participants of the Bharat Jodo Yatra (unity march) along with workers associated with Indian National Congress party and Gandhi 7. Various of Gandhi walking with the crowd, waving at supporters 8. Wide of unity march 9. Sign of Rahul Gandhi’s mother Sonia Gandhi’s picture. The banner reads, “Each drop of my blood shows that this is my country.” 10. Unity march participants walking past large cut-out of Rahul Gandhi STORYLINE: An Indian court found opposition leader Rahul Gandhi guilty of defamation Thursday over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surname and sentenced him to two years in prison. The case against Gandhi dates back to an election rally in 2019 where he said, “Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname?” In his speech, he then went on to name fugitive Indian diamond tycoon Nirav Modi, banned Indian Premier League boss Lalit Modi, and Narendra Modi. Narendra Modi is not related to either of the other two. The defamation case against Gandhi was filed by a leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in western Gujarat state. The complainant, Purnesh Modi, said Gandhi’s comments had “defamed the entire Modi community.” Modi is a common last name in western Gujarat state. Gandhi, who was present in the court when the verdict was announced, said his remarks were meant to highlight corruption and were not directed against any community. He won’t go to jail immediately as the court granted bail for 30 days to file an appeal against the verdict. Mallikarjun Kharge, president of Gandhi's Congress Party, said Gandhi would appeal against the verdict in a higher court and called Modi’s government “cowardly and dictatorial.” After the verdict, Gandhi wrote on Twitter: “My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, and non-violence the means to get it." Gandhi, a lawmaker, is one of the main opposition leaders in India. He will most likely go up against Modi when he seeks his third term as prime minister in 2024. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...