Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to appear in an MP-MLA court in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur.
On June 26, the court directed Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on July 2 in a defamation case filed against him for alleged objectionable remarks about Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Background of the Case
The defamation case against Rahul Gandhi was initiated in 2018 by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijay Mishra. The case arose from Gandhi's alleged objectionable remarks about Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Earlier this year, Gandhi had to pause his “Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra” in Amethi to attend a court session on February 20, where he was subsequently granted bail.
Defamation Suits Galore
Rahul Gandhi has encountered numerous defamation cases across India. These cases have predominantly been filed by BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members. They usually stem from various statements he has made against political figures and organizations, particularly targeting BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, as well as the RSS.
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◆ Remarks Against VD Savarkar
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Pune Case (April 2023): Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of VD Savarkar, filed a defamation complaint against Gandhi for making allegedly false and malicious statements about Savarkar during a visit to the UK in March 2023.
Gandhi stated: “So, if five people beat up a Muslim man and one person is experiencing happiness, then this is cowardice. If you want to fight then go fight on your own. But no, five to six people along with Savarkar went to beat up the man.”
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Thane Case (November 2022): Vandana Dongre, a Shiv Sena functionary, lodged a complaint against Gandhi for his remarks suggesting that Savarkar had written mercy petitions to the British out of fear, thus betraying Indian freedom fighters.
Gandhi had read aloud from a letter allegedly written by Savarkar: “I will read the last line, which says ‘I beg to remain, Sir, your most obedient servant’ and is signed by VD Savarkar. I will translate this to Hindi – ‘Sir, mein aapka naukar rehna chahta hoon’. I did not write this but Savarkar ji has written.”
◆ Remarks Against the Modi Surname
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Surat Case (2019): BJP MLA Purnesh Modi filed a defamation case against Gandhi for his comment during an election rally. Gandhi was found guilty in a lower court. The Gujarat High Court declined to stay his conviction, but the Supreme Court later suspended the execution of the sentence.
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Ranchi Case (2019): Advocate Pradip Modi filed a suit following Gandhi’s same comment. The Jharkhand High Court has exempted Gandhi’s appearance pending further hearings.
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Patna Case (April 2019): Senior BJP leader Sushil Modi, who passed away in May, filed a defamation suit over the same Modi surname remark.
He said, “How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?”
◆ Remarks Against Amit Shah
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Ahmedabad Case (May 2019): BJP member Krishnavadan Brahmbhatt filed a complaint against Gandhi for calling Amit Shah a “murder accused” during a campaign speech on April 23, 2019, in Jabalpur. An Ahmedabad court granted him bail in October 2019.
Gandhi had said: “Murder accused BJP chief Amit Shah. Wah, kya shaan hai!”
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ADCB Cases (August 2018): The Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank (ADCB) and its chairman Ajay Patel filed two separate criminal defamation cases against Gandhi and Congress leader Randeep Surjewala over remarks connected to an RTI on demonetization. An Ahmedabad court granted him bail on July 12, 2019.
Gandhi had tweeted: “Congratulations Amit Shah ji, Director, Ahmedabad Dist Cooperative Bank, on your bank winning 1st prize in the conversion of old notes to new… 750 Cr in 5 days! Millions of Indians whose lives were destroyed by Demonetisation, salute your achievement….THE DIRECTOR of the bank that collected the highest number of demonetised notes.”
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Jharkhand Cases (2018 and 2023): BJP workers Pratap Katiyar and Naveen Jha filed defamation cases in Chaibasa district and Ranchi, respectively. In 2019, Gandhi made a controversial speech in Jharkhand during a Congress convention targeting Shah. The matter is pending before a court.
He said, “Congress BJP ki tarah hatyare ko party adhyaksh nahin sweekaregi.”
◆ Remarks Against RSS
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Haridwar Case (2023): Following Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, where he described the RSS as the “21st century Kauravas,” RSS volunteer Kamal Bhadoria filed a defamation complaint.
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Bhiwandi Case (2014): RSS worker Rajesh Kunte filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi for allegedly linking the RSS with Mahatma Gandhi’s killing at a protest in Thane. A Maharashtra court granted him bail in November 2016. The case is ongoing, with evidence currently being recorded.
Gandhi had said: “The RSS people killed Gandhiji and, today, their people talk of him… They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhiji.”
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Mumbai Case (2018): RSS worker Dhrutiman Joshi filed a case against Gandhi and CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury for allegedly linking the RSS to journalist Gauri Lankesh’s murder. A Mumbai court granted him bail on July 4, 2019.
Gandhi had remarked: “Anybody who speaks against the ideology of the BJP-RSS is pressured, beaten up, attacked and even killed.”
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Guwahati Case (2015): RSS volunteer Anjan Bora filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi in Assam over his allegations that the RSS did not allow him to enter Barpeta Satra. A Guwahati court granted him bail in September 2016.
Gandhi had stated: “When I went to Assam, I wanted to visit a temple in Barpeta district. RSS people stopped me from entering the temple. This is the way the BJP operates.”
◆ Rafale Remark Case
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Mumbai Case(2018): BJP leader Mahesh Shrishrimal filed a defamation complaint against Gandhi’s “commander-in-thief” remark targeting Prime Minister Modi during the Rafale controversy. The matter is pending before a court.
Gandhi had tweeted: “The sad truth about India’s commander-in-thief,” citing a French publication’s report on the Rafale dealings.
Rahul Gandhi's statements have led to numerous legal challenges. While the outcomes of these cases may not severely impact his political career, they continue to be significant talking points in India's political landscape.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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