‘A true Indian will not say this’: SC admonishes Rahul Gandhi over Indian Army remarks; stays defamation proceedings

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the criminal defamation case pending before a Lucknow court against Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi in connection with his remarks about the Indian Army during the 2022 Bharat Jodo Yatra.

However, the court also strongly admonished the Leader of the Opposition for his remarks, saying a true Indian will not say all this when there is conflict on the border.

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While hearing a petition filed by Gandhi against an Allahabad High Court order upholding a Lucknow court summons issued to him, the Supreme Court bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih cautioned Gandhi over his public remarks.

“Why in a social media post and not in Parliament?” the Bench asked senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was representing Rahul Gandhi.

The court also asked the Leader of the Opposition what credible material was behind his claim that China has acquired 2000 sq km of Indian land.

“How do you get to know when 2000 sq km was acquired by China? What is the credible material? A true Indian will not say this. When there is a conflict across border, can you say all this? Why can’t you ask the question in parliament?” the bench further questioned the Congress leader.

The defamation case, one of many filed against the Congress leader, pertains to a complaint filed by a former director of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

The complaint alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s December 16, 2022, remarks regarding the India-China border standoff were derogatory and defamatory towards the Indian armed forces. The Congress leader had said that “Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian Army personnel”.