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Modi surname remark case: Kiren Rijiju calls Rahul Gandhi’s move childish after he bid to challenge conviction in Surat court today
Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years of imprisonment last month for his remark in which he linked PM Modi’s last name with two fugitive businessmen Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi.
Ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s appeal against his conviction in the Gujarat Court, Cabinet Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju slammed the Congress leader and called his act childish. He also said that Gandhi is just bringing pressure on the appellate court.
Rijiju tweeted Rahul Gandhi might be going to Surat to file an Appeal. It is not required of a convict to go personally to file an Appeal. Generally, no convict goes personally. His going personally with a motley group of leaders and aides accompanying him is only a drama
In another tweet, he said What Rahul Gandhi is doing is also a childish attempt to bring pressure on the appellate court. All courts in the country are immune from such tactics.
The 52-year-old leader, who was disqualified as Congress MP, is likely to appear before Surat court today to appeal against his conviction and two-year sentencing in a 2019 criminal defamation case that was seen as an insult to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Former Congress MP will be accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the Chief Ministers of three Congress-ruled states – Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel, and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He will also ask for an interim stay on the conviction which would also restore his Lok Sabha membership.
The Congress, however, said the party leaders were accompanying Rahul Gandhi to Surat for moral support and denied the visit was a show of strength.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said It’s not a show of strength. He is fighting for the country. They are going with him to support him in his fight.
Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years of imprisonment last month for his remark in which he linked PM Modi’s last name with two fugitive businessmen Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi. Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi said how come all the thieves share the same name as Modi.
Gandhi is also asked to vacate his residence situated in Tughlaq Lane which was given to him by the government in 2005.
India News
Earthquake of 6.2 on Richter scale jolts Delhi-NCR
Reports said the tremors were felt acutely by people residing in high rises and many fled by staircase to the groundfloor and were awaiting more aftershocks.
Strong tremors jolted parts of Delhi-National Capital Region, and several northern states after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Nepal.
Reports said the tremors were felt acutely by people residing in high rises and many fled by staircase to the groundfloor and were awaiting more aftershocks.
India News
Delhi Police raids CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury’s residence in NewsClick case
Raids are underway in more than 30 locations across Noida, Delhi, Ghaziabad.
Delhi Police on Tuesday raided the official residence of CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury’s residence over his suspected involvement in entities linked to NewsClick. Earlier, Delhi Police Special Cell raided the residences of journalists and employees linked to NewsClick.
The raid in CPI-M leader’s residence followed after one of the persons linked to the case was reported to be residing in the premises. At present, raids are underway in more than 30 locations across Noida, Delhi, Ghaziabad. However, no arrest has been made yet.
Some journalists associated with the news portal have been brought to the Delhi Police Special Cell office at Lodhi Road. Reports said that the police have recovered the dump data from laptops, mobile phones of the journalists of the news portal. NewsClick is accused of receiving funds from US millionaire Neville Roy Singham for pro-China propaganda in India.
Speaking on the matter, BJP Leader Dishyant Kumar Gautam stated that any organisation or party which functions with the help of Chinese funds or works with anti-national elements is bound to face such actions. He added that these organisations should realise that this drama cannot go any further.
On the other hand, the Press Club of India expressed concern over the incident. It stated that it is deeply concerned about the multiple raids conducted on the houses of journalists and writers associated with NewsClick. The Press Club of India mentioned that they are supervising the development and will be releasing a detailed statement.
The issue of alleged China funding to NewsClick has been doing rounds for almost a year. The news portal first came under agencies glare in 2021, when the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police lodged a case against it. In 2021, NewsClick offices were also searched by Income Tax officers in an alleged tax evasion case.
Latest Politics News
Bihar caste census results: Greater population, greater rights is our pledge, says Rahul Gandhi
RJD president Lalu Yadav also issued a statement noting that the exercise will set the tone for nationwide caste census which will be undertaken when they form the next government at the Centre.
Nitish Kumar led Bihar government revealed caste survey results on Monday. The opposition including the Congress welcomed the results and urged the central government to conduct a similar exercise at the national level.
Speaking on the matter, Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is also a vocal supporter of nationwide caste census, stated that Bihar’s survey revealed that 84 percent of the people in the state are Other Backward Classes (OBC’s), Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribe (STs). He added that their rights should be provided based on their population.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote that out of 90 secretaries of the central government, only three are OBCs, who handle only 5 per cent of India’s budget. Therefore, it is important to know the caste statistics of India. He further mentioned that greater the population, the greater the rights and that it is their pledge.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the caste census results revealed the economic situation of the people belonging to different groups. He added that the census will help the government to take action in order to ascertain social justice and upliftment of all sections.
The Janata Dal (United) leader also called for an all-party meeting on Tuesday to share the details of Bihar caste census report and deliberate what further steps needed to be taken. Reports stated that nine parties are expected to participate in the meeting.
RJD president Lalu Yadav, who is Kumar’s ally also issued a statement noting that the exercise will set the tone for nationwide caste census which will be undertaken when they form the next government at the Centre.
Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh urged the centre to release the results of caste census. He added that holding caste-census has become essential for providing a firmer foundation for social empowerment programmes and for deepening social justice.
