India court warns Rahul Gandhi could face defamation trial

The case stems from a defamation lawsuit filed against Gandhi by an activist of RSS, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s ideological mentor, for accusing the organization of assassinating Mohandas Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi, sued for defamation over his comment blaming the RSS for Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, was told by the Supreme Court today: “You can’t make collective denunciations“. Justices Dipak Mishra and R.F. Nariman observed on Tuesday, “If you had said some people from RSS had killed Gandhiji, it would have been different”.

It seems there is no easy relief for Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who is facing a two-year-old defamation case for saying “RSS people had killed Mahatma Gandhi”.

Central leadership of Congress has asked the city unit to work in unison to capture power in the poll-bound Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Vice President Rahul Gandhi is personally looking into preparations for the big battle early next year, a party leader today said.

The hearing saw the Bench adopting a stentorian tone quite different from November past year when it had offered Mr. Gandhi an opportunity to express regret over the remarks and give the issue a “decent burial”. Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha PJ Kurien said the entire House unanimously condemns the remark and asked the Government to ensure that strictest action is taken against the person who made the statement as per the law. Gandhi’s counsel Harin Raval also sought to justify the remarks: “They are part of government records and also a judgment delivered by the Bombay high court”.

The bench said that “freedom is not crippled or curbed”. The apex court further said that they have connected their psyche and Rahul will need to confront the trial for the situation. As Union home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel banned the RSS following Gandhiji’s murder.

In his reaction, RSS’ Communications Deprtment Head Manmohan Vaidya said the “Congress had been consistently trying to spread lies and baseless allegations about RSS”.

He added, “At this point, Congress party stands with Rahul Gandhi and we are confident that we will be able to present a strong case, present all the facts and historical evidence that we are supposed to make”.

Following Kunte’s complaint, the magistrate had initiated proceedings and issued a notice to Rahul directing him to appear before it.

Addressing the Congress parliamentary party meeting, Mrs Gandhi said: “When it comes to growth and GDP figures they tout, questions on their veracity are raised even by their own party leaders”.

BSP chief Mayawati too hit out at Gandhi and said that it showed his lackadaisical attitude towards the sensitive matter.