India: Rahul Gandhi's Plea For Conviction Stay Rejected
The Facts
On Thursday, the district court of Surat in India's western state of Gujarat dismissed senior opposition leader Rahul Gandhi's appeal seeking a stay on his recent defamation conviction and two-year jail sentence.
Though Gandhi's legal team will reportedly challenge the decision in the Gujarat High Court on Friday, the suspension of his plea means he cannot be reinstated as a Member of Parliament for now, meaning a by-election will be held in his Kerala constituency.
The Spin
Narrative A
This judgment shows that no one is above the law, nor is anyone able to dodge due judicial process for scurrilous statements, scandalous comments, or defamatory remarks. Just because India is a democracy doesn't mean citizens are entitled to throw inflammatory abuses at anyone. The sentence sets a precedent that insulting people for their caste or targeting them over their surname is inexcusable. Rahul Gandhi must learn a lesson from his conviction and choose his words more carefully in the future.
Narrative B
The case against PM Modi's top opponent is, without question, politically motivated. The ruling government — headed by Modi — has prosecuted several politicians, none of whom have been members of the BJP. Modi and his accomplices are eradicating dissent in journalism and government, paving the way for an indefinite period of illegitimate one-party rule. However, the law will catch up with the motormouths of the BJP sooner rather than later.
