Supreme Court came down heavily on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his alleged objectionable remarks against freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, saying that the court won’t allow such comments against freedom fighters and warning of suo motu action if repeated. 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.
SC Raps Rahul Gandhi For Irresponsible Remarks On Veer Savarkar
Why In News
- Supreme Court came down heavily on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his alleged objectionable remarks against freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, saying that the court won’t allow such comments against freedom fighters and warning of suo motu action if repeated.
- 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.
What Was 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.
SC Judgement
- “You don’t treat freedom fighters like this…,” a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan told Gandhi, cautioning that it would initiate suo motu proceedings against him if he repeated such statements in the future.
- Justice Datta pointed out to senior advocate A M Singhvi, who appeared for Gandhi, that even Mahatma Gandhi had used the expression “your faithful servant” in communications to the then viceroy, wondering if he too would be called “servant of the British” for that.
- “Does your client know Mahatma Gandhi also used ‘your faithful servant’ while addressing the viceroy? Does your client know that his grandmother, when she was the Prime Minister, also sent a letter praising the gentleman (Savarkar). You don’t treat freedom fighters like this when you know the history.
- Why do you comment like this?” Justice Datta asked. “Let him not make irresponsible statements about the freedom fighters. Is this the way you treat freedom fighters?” the judge told the senior counsel. Singhvi said the Congress leader had no intention of creating animosity.
- To this, Justice Datta said, “He is a political leader of a political party? You go to Maharashtra and make a statement? He (Savarkar) is worshipped there. Don’t do this.” The judge added that he had come across even judges of the Calcutta High Court addressing the Chief Justice as “your servant” during those days.
- The bench said it was inclined to give Gandhi relief in the pending proceedings as he had a “good case on law”.
- Justice Datta, however, cautioned that it will not take any further statements about freedom fighters kindly. “We will grant you stay… but we will restrain you. Let’s be clear, any further statement and we will take suo moto and no question of sanction! We will not allow you to speak anything about …the freedom fighters. They have given us freedom,” Justice Datta said.
