New Delhi/UNI: The Congress on Thursday launched a scathing attack at the Narendra Modi-led government after a court convicted its MP Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case and said the party will approach the High Court in this regard.

The former Congress president was convicted in a defamation case by a Surat court on Thursday for his "all thieves have Modi surname" remark.

The court sentenced him to two years in jail. However, he was granted bail.

"Modi government sends ED (Enforcement Directorate), police, and and imposes cases on political speeches. We will appeal in the Higher Court," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote in a tweet.

In an apparent reference to the court's judgement, Rahul Gandhi while sharing one of the quotes of Mahatma Gandhi in a tweet wrote, "My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, non-violence the means to get it."

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to the micro blogging site twitter and wrote, "The whole machinery is trying to supress the voice of Rahul Gandhi ji. My brother has never been afraid, nor he will be. The power of truth and love of crores of countrymen are with him."