Indian Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi's Defamation Case Suspended
Rahul Gandhi's Political Comeback
High Court Suspends Prison Sentence, Allows Him to Return to Parliament
In a significant development, India's Supreme Court has suspended the defamation conviction of Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the main opposition Congress Party. This ruling clears the way for Gandhi to return to Parliament and potentially challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in upcoming elections.
The defamation case stemmed from a 2014 speech in which Gandhi allegedly referred to the then-Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, as "chor" (thief). Modi filed a defamation suit against Gandhi, and in December 2019, a trial court convicted Gandhi and sentenced him to two years in prison.
Gandhi appealed the conviction, and the Supreme Court has now stayed the prison sentence pending the outcome of the appeal. The court also granted Gandhi permission to travel abroad, which he had been barred from doing.
This development is a major boost for the Congress Party, which has been struggling to regain its political footing since losing power in 2014. Gandhi's return to active politics is expected to energize the party and give it a stronger chance of success in the upcoming elections.
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