Top court scolds Rahul Gandhi over Savarkar remark

The Supreme Court on Friday warned Rahul Gandhi against making adverse remarks about freedom fighters as it stayed a trial court summons over remarks about VD Savarkar.

A bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Manmohan warned the Congress leader from making further derogatory remarks against Savarkar, noting he is "worshipped" in Maharashtra.

Gandhi will face consequences if he persists, 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'."

"Does your client know Gandhi also used 'your faithful servant' while addressing the Viceroy? Does your client know his grandmother, when she was Prime Minister, sent a letter praising the gentleman?" In further strong comments, the court said, "They gave us freedom and you treat them like this..." and labelled Rahul Gandhi's earlier comment on Savarkar "irresponsible".

The development came a day after Rahul Gandhi moved the Supreme Court challenging an order of the Allahabad High Court which refused to quash summons against him in the case. The defamation case stems from Gandhi's comments on Savarkar made on November 17, 2022, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra at a rally in Maharashtra's Akola district. Gandhi allegedly referred to Savarkar as a "British servant" who received a pension from the colonial government.

Gandhi’s counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that there was no intention to incite enmity through the statement. While the Supreme Court agreed to grant a stay on the proceedings for now, it made it clear that Rahul Gandhi must not repeat such remarks. “Let us be very clear. Any further statements and we will take it up suo motu. We will not allow anyone to comment on our freedom fighters,” the court warned.

The court also issued notices to Nripendra Pandey and the UP government to respond to Rahul Gandhi's plea to quash the complaint. Advocate Pandey filed a complaint, accusing Gandhi of intentionally insulting Savarkar during the rally.

In all of this, the Congress leader was not in court to hear the rebuke; he was in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district to meet those injured in Tuesday's terror attack in Pahalgam.