Rahul Gandhi quotes Gandhiji in tweet on truth and non-violence after defamation verdict

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday quoted Mahatma Gandhi's principles of truth and non-violence in a tweet after a court in Surat sentenced him to two years in jail in a criminal defamation case related to his "Modi surname" remarks during an election rally in Karnataka ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha election.

"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 said in a tweet in Hindi soon after the court verdict.



The case was related to Gandhi's "Modi surname" remarks made during an election rally in Karnataka before the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

The court granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court, the Congress leader's lawyer Babu Mangukiya said.

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.

Gandhi was present in the court when the verdict was announced.

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.

Inputs from PTI