(Image source from: x.com/INCIndia)
On Monday, the Supreme Court sharply criticized Rahul Gandhi while also putting a hold on a criminal defamation case linked to a statement he made during the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'. He claimed that "Chinese troops are beating Indian soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh." This remark referred to the confrontation between India and China in the Tawang area of Arunachal Pradesh back in December 2022. Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih were very disapproving of Gandhi's comments. The Congress MP also asserted that China has taken 2,000 square kilometers of Indian land and blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his administration for this 'surrender.' Justice Datta questioned him by asking, "How do you know that 2,000 square kilometers of Indian territory has been seized by the Chinese? If you love your country... you shouldn’t be making these statements."
The court inquired of Mr. Gandhi, "Were you present? Do you have any reliable evidence?" Senior lawyer Abhishek Singhvi, representing the Congress leader, responded, "If he can't express these things... how will he be the Leader of Opposition?" However, Justice Datta retorted, "Then why don't you make such statements in Parliament?" Despite this, the Supreme Court sent a notice regarding Mr. Gandhi's request to dismiss the case. This occurred after Mr. Singhvi highlighted apparent errors in the way the charges were handled, including that the police did not give Mr. Gandhi a chance to speak before acting on a criminal complaint. In May, the Allahabad High Court rejected Rahul Gandhi's challenge to a summons issued by a special court for elected officials in Lucknow. Justice Subhash Vidyarthi of the Allahabad High Court dismissed Mr. Gandhi's claim that the special court should have checked the allegations before summoning him, stating that freedom of speech does not cover making statements that 'defame' the Army. Mr. Gandhi had further argued that the charges against him were driven by political motives.
The special court had called for Rahul Gandhi to appear as a defendant in a trial. A complaint was made by Udai Shanker Srivastava, who accused Rahul Gandhi of making insulting comments about the Army regarding the clash with the Chinese in December 2022. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has frequently criticized Mr. Gandhi over these comments, labeling him as "perpetually confused" and accusing him of wanting India to 'surrender' to China just like during his party's time in power.
