UP Court Registers Complaint Case On Plea Against Rahul Gandhi Over His Alleged 'Fight Against Indian State' Remark

A Court in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow district last week directed the registration of a complaint case on a plea filed by an advocate against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, wherein it has been alleged that the Congress leader made a statement that "we are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian State itself". A Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate has posted the matter for October 1 for the recording of the statement of the complainant. The plea, filed by Advocate Nripendra Pandey, contends that Gandhi's alleged remark amounts to a seditious and anti-national statement made deliberately with the intent to destabilise the country. The complaint plea also impleaded Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi, and Rajya Sabha MPs Sonia Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, and Jairam Ramesh as opposite parties, alleging that since they were present at the programme where the remark was made, they too should be arrested. In his plea, the complainant has alleged that on January 15, 2025, during the inauguration of the newly built Congress headquarters, Indira Bhawan, in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi, while addressing the gathering, stated: "WE ARE NOW FIGHTING THE BJP, THE RSS & INDIAN STATE ITSELF". According to the petition, Gandhi's words meant that the Congress Party was "fighting against the Republic of India", which, the petitioner asserted, was nothing short of a statement against the nation itself. He argued that the expression 'Indian State' signifies the people of India and all constitutional institutions, Parliament, the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, that together form the Indian Republic. Thus, the complaint alleges that Gandhi's remark was "an attack on the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India". The plea further submitted that the remark was not a slip of the tongue but was made "in full consciousness, deliberately and with the intent to destabilize the nation". It alleges that by repeatedly spreading falsehoods, hurling accusations against constitutional institutions, and targeting those holding responsible offices, Rahul Gandhi and his associates in the INDIA alliance were attempting to sow seeds of distrust among the youth and push the country towards instability and even civil conflict. The petitioner asserted that Gandhi's 'anti-national statement' insulted Bharat Mata and the 140 crore people of India. The plea has also pointed to Gandhi's earlier speeches and controversies to argue that his actions and remarks form part of a 'planned conspiracy' under the influence of 'foreign and anti-national powers'.

UP Court Registers Complaint Case On Plea Against Rahul Gandhi Over His Alleged 'Fight Against Indian State' Remark

Sparsh Upadhyay

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