Apologise or face trial: SC to Rahul Gandhi on RSS defamation case

The Congress on Tuesday said its Vice President Rahul Gandhi will not apologise for his remark against the RSS that it killed Mahatma Gandhi.

The Congress leader said that Rahul Gandhi had challenged constitutionality of defamation proceeding besides the order of Maharashtra High Court wherein the summoning order was challenged.

Mr Gandhi has petitioned the court to cancel the defamation case against him.

While addressing a public rally ahead of the national election in 2014, Gandhi allegedly said, “RSS people killed Gandhiji and their people talk of Gandhiji”.

Three of Rahul’s lawyers, who represent him in the case in the Supreme Court, refused to comment anything at this stage.

“On a suggestion of Shri Rahul Gandhi expressing regret or apology, the question does not arise. Congress Party and Mr Gandhi will defend these remarks at appropriate forum”, PTI quoted Congress’ chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala as saying.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. We will produce historic facts (about the assassination of Gandhi) before the court. The Bench, however, posted the matter for July 27, making it clear that no further adjournments will be granted. He has said the Congress leader had sought to tarnish the reputation of the Sangh through his speech.

The court said that Gandhi would be charged and face trial if he does not express regret for his comments during the upcoming hearing. The case must be decided on merits, whether what you spoke was for public good or not, will be determined at the trial.

Media editors have in one voice opposed the defamation law as unduly restrictive of freedom of speech, but the court has rejected this. Judgement is already there. Gandhi maintained his statement on RSS involved in the Mahatma Gandhi’s killing stating that it is a historical fact and his counsel said that the statement was within his right to free speech.

“The whole idea of moving the Supreme Court was to get the lower court order quashed”.

The BJP said the court proceedings on Tuesday were a “slap on the Congress face”.

It also said “the objective of law is not to convert people into litigants”. “If it comes to trial then we are ready to give evidence to the court, as history cannot be changed, cannot be rewritten, and cannot be denied just because it does not suit the current government”, Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi told IANS over the phone.