In an election rally in 2019, Mr Gandhi had said: “Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi… how come they all have Modi as the common surname?
His remarks on “Modi surname” during an election rally in 2019 was nothing but “sarcasm”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today told a Gujarat court. In a defamation suit that was filed by a Gujarat BJP MLA, Rahul Gandhi today appeared before a magisterial court in Surat to defend himself.
“I didn’t mean to target any community. I just played sarcasm during the elections. I don’t remember much about this,” Rahul Gandhi reportedly said.
Rahul Gandhi, in an election rally held at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019, had said: “Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi… how come they all have Modi as the common surname? How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?
The leader was Congress president when he had passed the remark.
In April 2019, BJP MLA Purnesh Modi had filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi under IPC sections 499 and 500 that deal with defamation. The MLA from Surat-West seat, in his complaint, had alleged that Rahul Gandhi had defamed the entire Modi community by saying “How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?” while addressing a poll rally in 2019.
While admitting the suit, the court had held that there was a prima facie case of criminal defamation against the Lok Sabha member from Wayanad.
Rahul Gandhi had earlier appeared before the court in October 2019 and pleaded not guilty for his comment.
Surat’s Chief Judicial Magistrate AN Dave, a week back, had directed Gandhi to remain present in the court on June 24 to record his final statement in the case.
Rahul Gandhi appeared before the court on Thursday and clarified that he didn’t mean to target any community with his comment.
The matter has now been posted for hearing on July 12.
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