India: Rahul Gandhi's Plea For Conviction Stay Rejected

Facts

On Thursday, the district court of Surat in India's western state of Gujarat dismissed senior opposition leader Rahul Gandhi's appeal seeking a stay on his recent defamation conviction and two-year jail sentence.¹
Though Gandhi's legal team will reportedly challenge the decision in the Gujarat High Court on Friday, the suspension of his plea means he cannot be reinstated as a Member of Parliament for now, meaning a by-election will be held in his Kerala constituency.²
In addition, if he fails to get his conviction overturned, Gandhi will also be banned from contesting elections for eight years. He has further been asked to vacate his official residence in light of recent developments.³
Though his political future looks uncertain, Gandhi – who is out on bail – will not be arrested until he has exhausted all his legal appeals.⁴
The case dates back to 2019, when Gandhi said during an election rally that "all the thieves have Modi as their common name," in an attempt to compare Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fugitive criminals.⁵
India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been widely accused of using defamation law to silence critics under the leadership of PM Modi.⁶

Narrative A, as provided by India TV News. This judgment shows that no one is above the law, nor is anyone able to dodge due judicial process for scurrilous statements, scandalous comments, or defamatory remarks. Just because India is a democracy doesn't mean citizens are entitled to throw inflammatory abuses at anyone. The sentence sets a precedent that insulting people for their caste or targeting them over their surname is inexcusable. Rahul Gandhi must learn a lesson from his conviction and choose his words more carefully in the future.
Narrative B, as provided by New York Times. The case against PM Modi's top opponent is, without question, politically motivated. The ruling government — headed by Modi — has prosecuted several politicians, none of whom have been members of the BJP. Modi and his accomplices are eradicating dissent in journalism and government, paving the way for an indefinite period of illegitimate one-party rule. However, the law will catch up with the motormouths of the BJP sooner rather than later.