- Rahul Gandhi faced court ire over remarks India ceded 2,000 sq km of land to China in Ladakh
- Court said he should not make statements such as that as a "true Indian" and asked if he had proof
- The court, however, granted him temporary relief over alleged criminal defamation of the Army
Rahul Gandhi was given a sharp rebuke by the Supreme Court Monday even as it stayed proceedings in a criminal defamation case arising from a comment - that "Chinese troops are thrashing Indian soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh" - he made during the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'. The comment was in reference to the India-China face-off in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang sector in December 2022.
A bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice AG Masih took strong exception to the remarks.
The Congress MP had also claimed 2,000 sq km of Indian territory has since been occupied by China and he blamed Prime MInister Narendra Modi and his government for the 'surrender'.
"How did you get to know that 2,000 sq km of Indian land has been taken over by the Chinese? If you are a true Indian... you won't say all of this" Justice Datta said about Mr Gandhi's remarks.
"Were you there? Do you have any credible material?" the court asked Mr Gandhi.
Appearing for the Congress leader, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi countered, "If he can't say these things... how can he be the Leader of Opposition?"
But Justice Datta shot back, "Then why don't you say such things in Parliament?"
Nevertheless, the Supreme Court issued a notice against Mr Gandhi's plea to quash the case.
This was after Mr Singhvi pointed out apparent missteps in the filing of charges, including the police not allowing Mr Gandhi a prior hearing before taking cognisance of a criminal complaint.
In May the Allahabad High Court had rejected Rahul Gandhi's plea challenging a February summons that had been issued a special court, for elected representatives, in Lucknow.
Allahabad High Court judge Justice Subhash Vidyarthi overruled Mr Gandhi's argument - that the special court should have verified the allegations before summoning him - and observed that freedom of speech does not include the right to make statements that 'defame' the Army.
Mr Gandhi had also argued the charges against him were politically motivated.
READ | High Court Junks Rahul Gandhi's Plea In Army Remark Case
The special court had summoned Rahul Gandhi as an accused for facing trial.
The original complaint was filed by a Udai Shanker Srivastava, who alleged Rahul Gandhi, in December 2022, made derogatory remarks about the Army over the clash with the Chinese.
READ | Rahul Gandhi Says China On Indian Land, Centre's Approach "Dangerous"
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which has just as repeatedly lashed out at Mr Gandhi over these remarks, then labelled him "perpetually confused" and counter-accused him of wanting India to 'surrender before China...in the same way during his party's government'.
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