Bengaluru, Jul 7 (IANS):  The Congress in Karnataka is organising a protest before the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the premises of the Vidhana Soudha on Friday after the Gujarat High Court verdict in the defamation case against Rahul Gandhi.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, ministers and Congress legislators will take part in the protest to condemn the "conspiracy" against Rahul Gandhi.

Karnataka Deputy CM and Congress state President D.K. Shivakumar stated, "Very unfortunate that justice has not prevailed. It is the murder of democracy. Still, the entire country and the opposition parties stand by Rahul Gandhi.

"He is a great leader who is fighting across the country to unite it. BJP leaders are not able to tolerate this. They want to block him from Parliament...I feel Rahul Gandhi will grow stronger."

"It is being done to end the political career of Rahul Gandhi. Leaders from all opposition parties stand together with Rahul Gandhi. No one can stop Rahul Gandhi. The people will give a befitting answer to this," Shivakumar said.