NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court docket on Friday stayed the Allahabad excessive courtroom order refusing to quash summons to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in reference to the defamation case regarding his remarks about Veer Savarkar.
Throughout the listening to, the apex courtroom issued a stern reminder to the chief of opposition stating that Savarkar is revered in Maharashtra and warned of penalties for making disparaging remarks about freedom fighters.
The courtroom, notably, referenced historic context, declaring that Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had written a letter praising Savarkar.
“Does your consumer know that his grandmother, when she was the Prime Minister, additionally despatched a letter to the praising the gentleman. So, let’s not make irresponsible statements about freedom fighters,” the Supreme Court docket requested senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, showing for Rahul.
“This isn’t the way you deal with freedom fighters when you do not know something concerning the historical past and geography of the nation,” the apex courtroom mentioned.
The courtroom additionally drew a parallel to Mahatma Gandhi’s correspondence in the course of the British period, the place he used the phrase “your trustworthy servant.”
The case stems from Gandhi’s controversial statements about Savarkar throughout a Bharat Jodo Yatra rally in Maharashtra’s Akola district on November 17, 2022.
Advocate Nripendra Pandey subsequently filed a defamation criticism, contending that Gandhi’s remarks have been intentionally supposed to defame Savarkar.