Aware of reports on Rahul's conviction: UN

March 24, 2023 11:48

File pic of Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra

The United Nations is aware of the reports about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's two-year jail sentence and that his party plans to appeal the verdict, a spokesperson for the UN chief Antonio Guterres has said.

Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, was responding to a question at a press briefing at the United Nations on Thursday on whether Guterres was worried about democracy in India.

"I can say that we're aware of the reports regarding the case of Rahul Gandhi. We understand that his party does plan to appeal the decision. That's as much as I can say on that at this stage," Haq said.

Gandhi was sentenced to two years in jail on Thursday by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname remark, in a setback to the Lok Sabha MP who faces the risk of disqualification.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, which held 52-year-old Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.

Gandhi took to Twitter to give his initial reaction by quoting Mahatma Gandhi in Hindi. "My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, non-violence, the means to get it. - Mahatma Gandhi," he tweeted. PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

India men's 4x400m team fails to finish in World Relays heats

"The men's 4x400m relay team had a good start. Muhammad Anas clocked 45.93 seconds in the first leg, but the second runner -- Rajesh Ramesh -- fell down due to cramps in leg muscles at the first bend," read a statement from the Athletics...

Heavy rains, flood leave 56 dead, thousands homeless in Brazil

Governor Eduardo Leite declared a state of emergency as the region grapples with the aftermath of the catastrophic weather event.

Poonch attack: Operation to flush out terrorists enters second day

They said a well-coordinated joint operation by the army and police is underway in many areas, including Shahsitar, Gursai, Sanai and Sheendara Top, to neutralise the terrorists.

Uddhav would have remained silent if....: Raj Thackeray

Raj also justified his support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing the construction of the Ram Temple and abrogation of Article 370 among other reasons.

Gujarat Titans struggling, but Gill 'adjusting well to captaincy'

Shubman Gill is having a tough initiation into Gujarat Titans captaincy, but senior batter David Miller backed him, saying the 24-year-old is increasingly "adjusting" to the role.