Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Thursday said that the central government is afraid of Rahul Gandhi and that's why it is conspiring to disqualify him from the lower House.

Reacting to sentencing of Gandhi in a defamation case, Chowdhury said that because of Rahul Gandhi's fear, he is being pressurised from all sides, however he will not be cowed down.

"Why two years, even if he is sentenced to 2,000 years, Rahul Gandhi will remain Rahul Gandhi," the Congress leader said while speaking to mediapersons in Parliament.

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chowdhury said that Gandhi had only said that why is it that whoever is being charged of corruption practices, has a Modi surname.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Adhir Ranjan  Chowdhury 

"Even the Prime Minister had said in Parliament that why Gandhi surname is being used instead of Nehru surname. Then can people with Gandhi surname file a defamation case against the Prime Minister?" Chowdhury sought to know.

The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate H.H. Varma earlier sentenced Rahul gandhi to two years in jail and also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 after finding him guilty.

London: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in conversation with the Indian Journalists' Association, in London
London: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in conversation with the Indian Journalists' Association, in LondonIANS

BJP MLA and former Gujarat Minister Purnesh Modi had filed the case against Rahul Gandhi for his alleged "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remark.

Gandhi has maintained that there was no mala fide intention on his part when he made the statement in question.

(With inputs from IANS)

Also SEE: "My religion is Truth": Rahul Gandhi after Surat Court sentenced him to 2 years in jail