Rahul Gandhi disqualified from India’s parliament over Modi ‘thief’ joke

Gandhi has been found guilty of defamation by a lower court

Rahul Gandhi arriving at court this week (AFP/Getty)

India’s opposition suffered a major blow on Friday when Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from parliament after being convicted of defamation for insulting prime minister Narendra Modi.

Gandhi, 52, was sentenced to two years in prison in Gujarat on Thursday over a speech in 2019 in which he referred to “thieves” as having the surname Modi.

He is expected to appeal against the verdict. “I am fighting for the voice of India, I am ready to pay any cost,” he tweeted after his disqualification.