Thursday's Headliners Newsmaker to feature Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi

Donna Leinwand Leger

May 23, 2023

Rahul Gandhi, India's most prominent opposition leader, will speak at a National Press Club Headliners Newsmaker at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 1. His remarks will focus on the future of Indian democracy, freedom of speech, and sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

In March, India's lower house of parliament disqualified Gandhi as a lawmaker following his conviction and sentencing for defamation based on a 2019 speech in which he allegedly defamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a thief. He has contended the ruling is a politically motivated measure to stifle opposition and has appealed it to a higher court. Gandhi, a critic of Modi, is the son of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the grandson of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and the great-grandson of India’s founding prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

This Headliners event is open to credentialed media and club members. To submit a question for the speaker, please email [email protected] and put GANDHI in the subject line. The deadline for submitting questions in advance is 9 a.m. on the day of the event.

Rahul Gandhi, India's most prominent opposition leader, will speak at a National Press Club in-person Headliners Newsmaker on Thursday, June 1 at 2 p.m.

In March, India's lower house of parliament disqualified Gandhi as a lawmaker following his conviction and sentencing for defamation based on a 2019 speech in which he allegedly defamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a thief. He has contended the ruling is a politically motivated measure to stifle opposition and has appealed it at a higher court. Gandhi, the son of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the grandson of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and the great-grandson of India’s founding prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, is a vocal critic of Modi.

This Headliners event is open to credentialed media and club members. Registration is essential. To submit a question for the speaker, please email [email protected] and put GANDHI in the subject line. The deadline for submitting questions in advance is 9 a.m. on the day of the event.