Leaders of the INDIA opposition bloc have criticised a Supreme Court judge's comments about Rahul Gandhi's statements on the India-China border issue, calling them 'unwarranted' and an 'extraordinary observation.' The remarks by Justice Dipankar Datta, made during a hearing for a criminal defamation case against the Congress leader, were a central topic of discussion at a meeting of the opposition bloc's floor leaders on Tuesday morning.
Gandhi's comments made during the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in December 2022 are the basis for the case against him. A former director of the Border Roads Organization (BRO), Uday Shankar Srivastava, filed the complaint, claiming that Gandhi's remarks were disparaging of the Indian Army.
During the hearing, the bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih questioned Gandhi's lawyer, Abhishek Singhvi, on his client's claims that '2,000 sq km' of Indian territory had been taken by China and that Indian soldiers were 'thrashed' by the Chinese. Justice Datta asked, "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 the border, can you say all this?" The judge also stated that the right to freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution does not permit one to say 'just anything.'
The court did, however, pause the defamation proceedings against Gandhi in the trial court and issued a notice to the complainant against Gandhi's petition to quash the case.
In a joint statement, the INDIA bloc leaders said, "All the leaders of the India parties agreed that the sitting judge has made an extraordinary observation which is unwarranted on the democratic rights of political parties." The statement added that "it is the responsibility of political parties especially the Leader of Opposition to comment on issues of national interest," and that "when a government fails so spectacularly to defend our borders, it is every citizen's moral duty to hold it accountable."
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While the opposition voiced its disapproval, top leaders from the BJP welcomed the Supreme Court's rebuke. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis thanked the court, stating, 'people sitting in high positions are spreading rumours and speaking against the interest of the country; this should stop.' He accused Rahul Gandhi of making baseless claims about China occupying Indian land, which he said affected the morale of soldiers. Fadnavis further alleged that Gandhi 'continuously speaks the same language as Pakistan and China.'
Similarly, Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, "I don't think there's anybody in this country who will disagree with what the Supreme Court has said. Rahul Gandhi has for many years been practising a politics that is based on lying." Chandrasekhar accused Gandhi of spreading 'lies' to mislead and provoke people.
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