The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that Rahul Gandhi, who blamed the RSS for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, should not have resorted to “collective denunciation” of an organisation and will have to face trial in the defamation case against him if he does not express regret.
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The bench stopped short of dictating the order asking Rahul to face trial when Rawal sought some more time to argue the case, and said they will be roping in senior Congress leader and well-known lawyer Kapil Sibal to make further points.
He said, “This is a fight between two ideologies”.
Mr Gandhi’s lawyers had argued before the court that that complaint, filed by Mr Kunte, was motivated and malafide and deserved to be quashed.
Rahul had moved the Supreme Court in May previous year seeking quashing of the criminal defamation case lodged against him for his comments. The Delhi-based (Central) government attacked his family.
The seat, be that as it may, declined the solicitation for adjournment and posted the matter for the date July 27 and said that no further adjournment will be conceded for the situation.
If Rahul Gandhi is finally prosecuted under the IPC for this remark, it will definitely set an example for the rest of the political leaders of the country who are normally thought to be beyond the reach of the long arm of the law. The Congress President also accused the government of practising deception, saying they are creating a “bubble” of achievement. Can we say in all honesty that we have responded with sincerity to their pleas? It would be worth watching how Rahul Gandhi will reply to the Supreme Court’s order.
Sonia and Rahul Gandhi also met Parliamentarians Monday ahead of the session and apprised them of issues that are likely to go up for discussion. You can not collectively denounce an organisation.
Gandhi was accompanied by Gurudas Kamat, who is in charge of the party’s affairs in Gujarat, state Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki and other party leaders here as well as former Union minister and Dalit leader Kumari Selja.
She termed as “deplorable”, government’s inaction in helping farmers affected by acute drought despite Supreme Court’s intervention. Nonetheless, we are confident that when the case would be heard on its merits, we will present historical evidence and documents that support Rahul Gandhi’s claim.
“We feel the case should be decided on merits”.
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The case has arisen out of a speech delivered by Gandhi at a rally in Thane during the 2014 election campaign, where he reportedly said: “RSS people killed Gandhiji and today their people (BJP) talk of him…”
