Hate speech has become a pervasive and non-stop problem in India, with social media and TV channels amplifying polarising content and remarks by politicians. While India has enough laws in place to check hate speech, experts say they require enforcement by the executive, which is often lacking. Many politicians have been accused of hate speech, including some opposition leaders and several BJP figures, but few have faced consequences. A lack of action against such speech risks normalizing it, intimidating those who are targeted, and ultimately undermining Indian democracy.

This article covers the latest developments in the Rahul Gandhi defamation case, where the Congress MP has been given a two-year term by a local court in Gujarat’s Surat for a comment he made in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The article provides an overview of what this means for Rahul Gandhi, who faces immediate disqualification under the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, unless he can get a stay on the conviction from another court. The article also includes live updates on reactions from political leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Additionally, the article covers protests by opposition leaders and Congress MPs in support of Rahul Gandhi and their criticism of the court’s verdict. Overall, this article provides a comprehensive account of the ongoing developments in the case and their political implications.