File photo of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi
Guwahati: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday defended Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in a 2018 defamation case, contending that facing the "highest number of cases" has become a "badge of honour" in the current political climate.
Speaking to reporters at the Assam Congress headquarters here, Vadra said being targeted with multiple cases by different agencies was a sign of being on the "right track".
Her words of defence about her brother were made in the background of Rahul Gandhi appearing on Friday before an MP-MLA court in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur,. The Leader of the Opposition recorded his statement in the defamation case related to his alleged remarks against the then BJP national president Amit Shah.
The court fixed March 9 as the next date of hearing, and the Lok Sabha MP from Raebareli has been asked to furnish evidence in his defence.
"This is the kind of politics where false cases are filed and people are exploited. We have been tolerating this for many years," she said, when asked about her brother's court appearance in the defamation case.
"This has become an identity that those who stand for truth, development and the people, and want positive politics, will face the most attacks by the government. The highest number of cases, ED and IT raids will take place against that person. It is a badge of honour that we are on the right track, and that is why we are being attacked," Vadra said.
The case dates back to 2018 when local BJP leader Vijay Mishra filed a defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi, alleging that during the Karnataka elections in 2018, the Congress leader made derogatory remarks against Shah.
(Based on PTI feed)