Rahul Gandhi Summoned by Lucknow Court Over 2022 Army Remarks

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been summoned by a Lucknow court to appear on March 24 in connection with an alleged defamatory statement he made about the Indian Army during the 2022 Bharat Jodo Yatra.

According to a report by PTI, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Alok Verma has directed Gandhi to be present in court for the hearing.

The complaint was lodged by lawyer Vivek Tiwari on behalf of Uday Shankar Srivastava, a former director of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), who holds a rank equivalent to an Army Colonel.

Tiwari claims that Gandhi’s remarks made on December 16, 2022, regarding a clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers on December 9, 2022, were defamatory and insulted the armed forces.

Another Defamation Case Against Gandhi

On February 11, a special court heard a separate defamation case against Rahul Gandhi related to an allegedly derogatory remark he made about Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections.

The case has been ongoing for five years, with multiple proceedings, but Gandhi had previously failed to appear in court.

Following a court warrant, Gandhi finally appeared in December 2023, and in February 2024, he responded to a summons in this case. The special magistrate later granted him bail.

The court has now scheduled the next hearing for February 24, during which the complainant is expected to present additional evidence.

Gandhi has denied the charges, asserting that the defamation case is politically motivated and part of a broader conspiracy to target him.

Legal Proceedings in the MP-MLA Court

The Lucknow MP-MLA court, which handles cases involving politicians, will hear the case against Gandhi in March.

The complaint, filed by Srivastava, was based on Gandhi’s remarks about the Indian Army during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in December 2022.

Gandhi’s comment that “Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh” was perceived as an attack on the government’s handling of border tensions with China.

This statement led to widespread controversy, with BJP leaders criticizing him and branding him as ‘anti-national.’

Political Backlash and BJP’s Response

Gandhi’s comments triggered a sharp response from the BJP, which accused him of undermining the Indian Army’s integrity.

BJP leaders alleged that Gandhi and his family had received undue favors from China, including funds and hospitality through the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

Despite the criticism, Gandhi has continued to challenge the government on the issue of national security and border tensions.

The controversy intensified further in March 2023, when Gandhi was temporarily disqualified from Parliament after being convicted in a separate defamation case concerning a remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surname.

A Gujarat court had sentenced him to two years in prison, the exact duration required for disqualification from Parliament.

Following an appeal, the Supreme Court stayed the conviction, noting that the trial court had imposed the maximum sentence.

The court highlighted that had the sentence been reduced by even one day, it would not have led to his disqualification.

Supreme Court’s Intervention in Defamation Cases

The Supreme Court has played a crucial role in granting relief to Gandhi in past defamation cases.

In January 2024, the top court stayed criminal defamation proceedings against him over comments made about Amit Shah in 2018. The case was filed after BJP leader Navin Jha accused Gandhi of making defamatory remarks linking Shah to a murder case.

Gandhi has maintained that these legal challenges are part of a deliberate attempt by the ruling party to silence the opposition and derail his political efforts.

Congress Responds to Summons

Reacting to the latest summons, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari accused the BJP of orchestrating a “dirty tricks” campaign against Gandhi.

Tiwari, a Rajya Sabha MP, claimed that the BJP is threatened by Gandhi’s rising influence following the Bharat Jodo Yatra and is using legal battles to distract him.

“This is BJP’s attempt to target our leadership because they fear Rahul Gandhi’s growing popularity.

They struggled in the last elections because of him. Now, they want to entangle him in legal battles. But we stand by justice and believe the truth will prevail,” Tiwari stated.

Political Implications and Future Legal Battles

The defamation case against Gandhi is unfolding in a politically charged atmosphere, with the Congress and BJP locked in intense competition. Political analysts suggest that such legal actions are becoming a recurring strategy to weaken opposition leaders and discredit their public image.

Gandhi’s remark about the Indian Army remains a focal point of political debate, with the ruling party emphasizing its nationalist credentials and accusing the opposition of attempting to malign India’s armed forces.

With the 2024 elections approaching, the legal and political battle between the BJP and Congress is likely to escalate further.

Gandhi’s response to these allegations and his future court appearances will be closely watched as both parties prepare for the electoral contest.