Court Issues Notice to Rahul Gandhi Over 'Fight Against Indian State' Remark

 In a significant legal development, the District Judge Court of Sambhal has issued a notice to Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, over his controversial remark stating that the Congress and other opposition parties were not just fighting the BJP but the Indian state itself. The court has directed Gandhi to either appear in person or submit a response by April 4, following a complaint filed against him.

Background of the Case

The case stems from a statement made by Rahul Gandhi on January 15, 2025, during the inauguration of the Congress party’s new headquarters, 'Indira Bhawan.' In his speech, Gandhi alleged that the BJP and RSS had captured every institution in the country and that the opposition was now engaged in a battle not just against the BJP and RSS but also against the Indian state itself.

His remarks stirred political controversy, prompting Simran Gupta to file a case in the special MP/MLA court, seeking registration of an FIR against the Congress leader. However, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) dismissed the plea on jurisdictional grounds.

Court Proceedings and Legal Notice

Advocate Sachin Goyal, representing the complainant, confirmed that the revision petition against the CJM’s order was taken up by the District Judge Court of Sambhal, which subsequently accepted the complaint and issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi.

"The court has summoned Rahul Gandhi to either appear before it or submit his response by April 4," Advocate Goyal stated.

Rahul Gandhi’s Controversial Remarks

During his address on January 15, Gandhi emphasized that the opposition’s battle was far from a fair political contest.

"Our ideology, like the RSS ideology, is thousands of years old, and it has been fighting the RSS ideology for thousands of years. Do not think that we are fighting a fair fight. There is no fairness in this. If you believe that we are fighting a political organisation called the BJP or RSS, you have not understood what is going on. The BJP and the RSS have captured every single institution of our country. We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS, and the Indian State itself," he had stated.

Additionally, he had raised concerns over the state of democratic institutions in India, questioning whether they were still functioning independently and criticizing the media for its alleged lack of fairness and freedom.

Political and Legal Implications

The notice issued to Rahul Gandhi has intensified political debates, with the BJP and its allies condemning his remarks as an attack on the sovereignty of the Indian state. Meanwhile, Congress leaders have defended Gandhi, stating that his words were taken out of context and that he was highlighting concerns about democratic institutions being compromised.

As the April 4 deadline approaches, political observers await Rahul Gandhi’s response and the subsequent legal proceedings, which could have far-reaching implications for the ongoing political landscape in India.