Congress MP Rahul Gandhi cited a quote of Mahatma Gandhi after a Surat Court on Thursday sentenced him to two years in jail in a criminal defamation case connected to his "Modi surname" remarks.
"My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, non-violence the means to get it -- Mahatma Gandhi," the Congress leader tweeted in Hindi.
The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark during an election rally in Karnataka ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha election.
Later, the Gandhi scion was granted bail by the court and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to let him appeal the court's judgment.
The court sentenced Gandhi under sections 499 and 500 of Indian Penal Code dealing with criminal defamation, the Congress leader's lawyer Babu Mangukiya said, according to a PTI report. Gandhi was present in the court when it pronounced its verdict.
The case was filed against Gandhi for his alleged "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remarks on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi.
The Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019 during Lok Sabha poll campaigning.
Meanwhile, the court's decision on Thursday drew sharp reactions from Opposition leaders.
"The whole scared machinery is trying to suppress the voice of @RahulGandhi ji by imposing price, punishment, discrimination. My brother has never been afraid, nor will he ever be. He has lived speaking the truth, and will continue to speak the truth. He will continue to raise the voice of the people of the country. The power of truth and the love of crores of countrymen are with him," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted in Hindi.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that a "conspiracy" is being hatched to "eliminate" Opposition leaders by prosecuting them.
"A conspiracy is being hatched to eliminate non-BJP leaders and parties by prosecuting them. We have differences with the Congress, but it is not right to implicate Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case like this. It is the job of the public and the opposition to ask questions. We respect the court but disagree with the decision," he tweeted.
(With PTI inputs)
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