A revision petition filed by Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, against an order of the MP/MLA court in Varanasi will be heard on Wednesday in the court of Justice Sameer Jain. The court had conducted a brief hearing on Monday and scheduled the next date of hearing.
PRAYAGRAJ: A hearing on the petition filed by Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is scheduled to take place in the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday. This petition has been filed against an order from the MP/MLA court in Varanasi, which had sought the registration of an FIR based on a statement made by Rahul Gandhi concerning the Sikh community in America.
What is the case?
In September 2024, during a program in America, Rahul Gandhi had stated that the environment for the Sikh community in India is not good. In his statement, he questioned whether Sikhs can wear a turban, wear a 'kada' (a steel bracelet), and visit Gurdwaras. Some groups have described his statement as inflammatory and divisive to society.
Following this, Nageshwar Mishra, a resident of Varanasi, submitted a written complaint at the Sarnath police station to register an FIR, but no First Information Report was filed. He then filed a complaint in court against this. The Judicial Magistrate (II) dismissed the case on November 28, 2024, stating that the matter related to a speech given in America and was beyond their jurisdiction.
Subsequently, Nageshwar Mishra filed a revision petition in the Sessions Court, which was accepted by the court. Rahul Gandhi has filed a revision petition in the Allahabad High Court against this order.
Rahul Gandhi's Argument
Senior advocate Gopal Swarup Chaturvedi will appear on behalf of Rahul Gandhi in the High Court. He argued that the order of the Varanasi court is erroneous, illegal, and beyond its jurisdiction. Gandhi's plea is that the order of the Varanasi MP-MLA court should be stayed as long as this matter is pending in the High Court.
The hearing will be conducted by Justice Sameer Jain. A brief hearing was held in the same court on Monday, during which the next hearing date was set. Learned advocates Satyendra Kumar Tripathi and Aman Singh Visen were present on behalf of the opposite party in this case. Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal was present in court on behalf of the state.
This case has garnered significant attention at both political and social levels. The controversy surrounding Rahul Gandhi's statement has reignited discussions in the country regarding the rights of the Sikh community and their social environment. The Congress leader maintains that his statement was not against any community, but rather he expressed concern about the rights and religious freedom of the Sikh community to the audience present in America.
