Congress calls Opposition meet over Surat court order against Rahul Gandhi

The Congress has called MPs from all Opposition parties for a meeting over Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case.

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party will hold a meeting with other opposition leaders in the morning and would stage a protest march from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk. The opposition parties have also sought time from President Draupadi Murmu in the Friday afternoon to raise the matter with her.

"Over 50 MPs met at Mallikarjun Kharge's house today. Tomorrow 10 AM he called all opposition parties' MPs for a meeting. From 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM, opposition parties will walk to Vijay Chowk to protest. We have asked President for her time tomorrow," Ramesh said.

Ramesh said the meeting at Kharge's residence lasted around two hours and it was decided that the Party chief would hold a meeting with all Pradesh Congress chiefs and Congress Legislature Party leaders in the evening and plan agitations in states.

"Tomorrow evening Congress President & CLP leader will have meeting for programs to be held in different states. This verdict on Rahul Gandhi is an example of PM Modi Govt's dirty politics. We will fight this legally and politically," he added.

A court in Surat convicted Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi over his comments on the 'Modi' surname.

Rahul Gandhi had said, "how come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" Following this, BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister, Purnesh Modi and filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi, who is also an MP from Wayne.

The remarks were made by Rahul Gandhi while addressing a rally in Kolar, Karnataka.

In his complaint, Purnesh said that Rahul Gandhi had insulted the entire Modi community by saying, "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname.?" Following the complaint, the Congress leader was booked under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code which deal with defamation.