Surat: Political opponents desperate to silence me, says Rahul

Surat: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday pleaded not guilty in a defamation case against him and stated that his political opponents are ‘desperate’ to silence him.
Gandhi also thanked his party workers and supporters for expressing solidarity with him during his appearance at a Surat magisterial court.
“I am in Surat today to appear in a defamation case filed against me by my political opponents, desperate to silence me. I am grateful for the love and support of the Congress workers who have gathered here to express their solidarity with me,” Gandhi tweeted.
The defamation case was filed against Gandhi over his “why all thieves share the Modi surname” remark.
After today’s hearing, the court has fixed the matter for hearing on December 10, 2019.
The Gandhi scion had made the remarks during campaigning for Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. His party colleague Shaktisinh Gohil defended Gandhi and said that the party in power should tolerate criticism by the opposition.