Yesterday, On 28th November, A Varanasi court rejected a plea to file a case against Rahul Gandhi over his comments on the condition of Sikhs in India. The petition had accused Gandhi of making an objectionable statement during his visit to the United States, where he allegedly claimed there is an atmosphere of insecurity among Sikhs in India. The court dismissed the plea, ruling against the request for legal action.
A Varanasi court dismissed a petition seeking the registration of a first information report (FIR) against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks about Sikhs during his recent visit to the United States.
The plea, filed by Nageshwar Mishra, claimed that Gandhi made an objectionable statement, alleging that “there is an atmosphere of insecurity among Sikhs in India.”
Read Also: “CBI Has Initiated Probe into Rahul Gandhi’s Citizenship Issue”: Delhi HC
During a speech in Washington, D.C., on September 10, Gandhi stated,
“The fight is about if a Sikh is allowed to wear a turban in India, or whether a Sikh is allowed to wear a kara in India, or if a Sikh is going to be able to go to Gurdwara. That’s what the fight is about. And this is for all religions.”
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Neeraj Kumar Tripathi rejected the plea, noting that under Section 208 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), an alleged offense committed outside India cannot be investigated or prosecuted in India without prior approval from the Central government.
The plea argued that Gandhi’s remarks were provocative and aimed at inciting people for his political gain.
It also referenced similar statements made by Gandhi at a rally in Delhi on December 14, 2019, which allegedly led to significant protests at Shaheen Bagh, resulting in violence.
In response, the court pointed out that the plea did not specify any actions that would indicate a cognizable offense based on Gandhi’s speech in Delhi. Consequently, the court dismissed the petition.
The case stems from comments made by Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the United States in 2023, where he allegedly stated that there is an atmosphere of insecurity among Sikhs in India. His remarks sparked controversy, with some accusing him of making an exaggerated or misleading statement about the situation of Sikhs in India.
A petition filed in a Varanasi court, seeking the initiation of legal action against Gandhi for his comments. The plea argued that Gandhi’s statement could harm the reputation of India and the Sikh community. The petitioners contended that such remarks could create unnecessary fear and insecurity among Sikhs, both in India and abroad.
However, the Varanasi court rejected the plea, ruling that there was insufficient basis to file a case against Gandhi. This decision came amidst ongoing political discussions regarding the safety and rights of minority communities in India, particularly the Sikh community, in the wake of various incidents and debates surrounding their treatment.