The Supreme Court has granted a stay on the summons issued to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in connection with his controversial comments about freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Rahul Gandhi’s statements, made during the Bharat Jodo Yatra on November 17, 2022, sparked a defamation case filed by a lawyer who claimed that Rahul Gandhi’s words promoted enmity. The top court’s decision to stay the summons from the Lucknow court follows a previous order by the Allahabad High Court that had refused to quash the summons. The Supreme Court, however, did not spare Rahul Gandhi from criticism, cautioning him against making statements on freedom fighters without adequate historical knowledge.
Rahul Gandhi’s Defamation Case and the Legal Battle
Rahul Gandhi approached the Supreme Court after the Allahabad High Court dismissed his plea to quash the summons. The Lucknow court had issued the summons based on Rahul Gandhi’s remarks during a rally in Akola, Maharashtra, which were seen as defamatory towards Savarkar. The high court’s April 4 order allowed Rahul Gandhi to file a revision petition before the sessions court, suggesting that its intervention was unnecessary at this point. Rahul Gandhi’s remarks about Savarkar, which allegedly incited division, had led to the legal challenge, with the Congress leader seeking relief from the lower court’s summons.
The Supreme Court’s interim stay, though granted, came with stern words. The bench emphasized that statements about freedom fighters should be made with a proper understanding of history. “Let him not make any statement on freedom fighters without knowing any history or geography,” the court remarked, highlighting the sensitive nature of such statements in the public sphere.
Rahul Gandhi’s Visit to Kashmir Amidst Tensions
While dealing with the defamation case, Rahul Gandhi also made headlines for his visit to Kashmir. The Congress leader arrived in the region to meet with individuals injured in the Pahalgam terror attack, which occurred on April 22 and claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists. Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit the Army’s Base Hospital in Badamibagh Cantonment to inquire about the health of those wounded in the tragic incident. His visit highlights his continued engagement with current national issues, even as his legal battles over his remarks on Savarkar continue.
