Congress scion must apologise for defaming RSS
The Supreme Court's order to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, asking for an immediate apology or to face trial for making a controversial remark on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is appropriate and timely, considering the little sense of history of the Gandhi scion. His comment at an election rally in Maharashtra in 2014 saying “Gandhi was shot dead by RSS people”, is truly uncalled for and highly condemnable. He must not have commented so and should have restrained himself before putting the entire blame to the RSS on a historically sensitive issue like that of the assassination of the father of the nation.
As Rahul Gandhi has been consistently making effort to spread lies and bringing baseless allegations against the RSS, it is felt across the political spectrum that he is only adding woes to the fast fraying party. Arguably, the order of the apex court to Rahul Gandhi has once again brought home the fact that no one is above the law of the land and will not be spared for speaking irresponsibly in public space. Now, the Supreme Court bench, headed by Justices Deepak Mishra and Rohinton F Nariman, while hearing the defamation case filed by an RSS member against the Congress vice president is examining the facts whether the petitioners’ allegation falls under Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code or not.
However, the Congress, which is all up in arms to defend their first family (or say lifeline) is maintaining that there is no question of offering a public apology or regret for Rahul Gandhi in this case. But what is surprising is that the counsel for Gandhi was saying that his remark was based on the decision of Punjab and Haryana High Court's judgement on Nathuram Godse's association with the RSS. It is a pity that the poor counsel could not make the difference in between ‘Godse killing Gandhi and RSS killed Gandhi' while making an effort to save the dying Gandhi. It is no way allowed to make collective denunciation of the RSS, when one of his members was involved in killing of Mahatma Gandhi.
If Rahul Gandhi is finally prosecuted under the IPC for this remark, it will definitely set an example for the rest of the political leaders of the country who are normally thought to be beyond the reach of the long arm of the law. It can once again enhance the respect for our esteemed judiciary that stands for the safeguard of the life and liberty of the common people. Indeed, the most notable observation made by the bench is that it had asked the counsel of Rahul Gandhi to explain how his statement served any public good and how it was not a matter of trial. It would be worth watching how Rahul Gandhi will reply to the Supreme Court's order.
The Court's observation on his allegation against RSS is truly a slap on the face of the leader and it is exposing the Gandhi dynasties politics of long-held lies for maintaining the status quo of the family in front of their frantic supporters. Finally, caught in the middle of this controversy, the party describing him as “a seasoned and mature politician with intricate understanding of history” is simply making him a big laughing stroke in a country of millions of young voters who are tired of the ‘Rahul problem' for long.