The Supreme Court strongly warned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on freedom fighter VD Savarkar. The court also stayed the trial court’s summons related to a case filed in Uttar Pradesh against Gandhi. However, it clearly said that he must not make any more negative comments about freedom fighters.

A bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Manmohan said that people in Maharashtra "worship" Savarkar, and any further insulting comments will not be tolerated. The court said, “We won’t allow any statements against our freedom fighters. Next, someone will say Mahatma Gandhi was a 'servant to the British’.”

The judges also told Gandhi’s lawyer, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, that “they gave us freedom, and you treat them like this”. They called the earlier remarks about Savarkar “irresponsible” and said such comments should not be made.

“Let’s not make irresponsible statements on freedom fighters... you (Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi) made a good point on law and are entitled to a stay,” the court said. It warned that if Rahul Gandhi makes any more such statements, the court may take suo motu action (which means the court may act on its own without any complaint).

Supreme Court stays legal case but issues warning

The case against Rahul Gandhi was filed by a person named Nripendra Pandey in Uttar Pradesh. The complaint said that Gandhi had "intentionally" insulted VD Savarkar during a speech in Akola, Maharashtra, in November 2022 as part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Rahul Gandhi had approached the Supreme Court to cancel the criminal case after the Allahabad High Court refused to help him. On Friday, the top court gave him temporary relief by putting the case on hold and issued notices to both the Uttar Pradesh government and the complainant.

The court asked, “Does your client know Gandhi also used ‘your faithful servant’ while addressing the Viceroy? Does your client know his grandfather, when he was prime minister, sent a letter praising the gentleman?”

Rahul Gandhi was not in court during the hearing. He was in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, meeting victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. He is also expected to meet business owners and families affected by the attack, which killed 26 people. The Resistance Front, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility.

 

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