In a significant development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi informed the Special MP/MLA Court in Pune that he perceives a “threat to his life.” During the hearing of a defamation case filed against him for his remarks on Savarkar, Mr. Gandhi alleged that the complainant is a descendant of Nathuram Godse and cited recent political threats as a basis for his apprehension.
Case Background:
The matter pertains to a defamation complaint filed against Mr. Rahul Gandhi following comments he made concerning Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The case is currently being heard by the Special Court in Pune designated to handle cases involving Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs).
Submissions Before the Court:
Appearing before the court, Mr. Gandhi made a series of startling submissions. He directly addressed the court, stating that there exists a tangible threat to his life. The primary basis for this claim, as articulated by his counsel, is the alleged lineage of the complainant in the defamation suit.
Mr. Gandhi submitted to the court that the complainant is a descendant of Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi. Drawing a parallel to the past, he stated, “There is history of violence associated with the complainant’s lineage… and history should not be allowed to repeat itself.” This submission explicitly links his fear of harm to the historical act of political assassination.
Furthermore, Mr. Gandhi connected the perceived threat to the current political climate. He informed the court that his recent political allegations of “vote chori” (vote theft) have agitated his political adversaries. He claimed that this has resulted in direct threats against him.
Specifically, Mr. Gandhi asserted that he has received two public threats from leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since raising the issue, with one of these threats allegedly coming from a serving Union Minister.
The statements were placed on record before the Special Court, which is proceeding with the hearing of the defamation case. The court has taken note of the submissions made by Mr. Gandhi regarding the perceived threats to his safety.
