Supreme Court rebukes Rahul Gandhi over China remark, pauses defamation case

India Today

The Supreme Court on Monday rebuked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for claiming that over 2,000 km of Indian territory was annexed by China, saying a "true Indian" wouldn’t make such a statement. However, the court stayed defamation proceedings against him linked to the remark.

Transcript

00:00While the Supreme Court has asked Rahul Gandhi about why did he make a statement without evidence and on social media,

00:07but there's sudden relief that has come for the leader of opposition.

00:11In the China land grab remark case, Supreme Court has issued stay proceedings in the trial court.

00:17That's the latest we are breaking to you on India Today.

00:19Supreme Court has issued a stay on defamation case proceeding.

00:23So the case that was on with regard to defamation against him because of the statement that he had made

00:28that Indian territory has been annexed or taken over by the Chinese.

00:33The top court has said to Rahul Gandhi,

00:36you are leader of opposition, why are you saying this?

00:38And it also asked about why would he say the Chinese army are beating up Indian jawans

00:43and all of this without certain evidence.

00:45Remember, it was a huge political showdown of whether the Chinese have annexed Indian territory.

00:50Government had reiterated that this has not happened.

00:54An inch of our territory also has not been taken away.

00:57Rahul Gandhi maintained it did happen.

00:59Amid all of this, however, Supreme Court has given a certain relief right now

01:03while questioning him, but adding,

01:06for now there is a stay on proceedings in the trial court.

01:11Our legal correspondent Anisha Mathur with the latest on that.

01:13Anisha, just put this in perspective for us.

01:15The Supreme Court questions him about making sensitive statements

01:19about a border clash without evidence,

01:21but also says that trial court proceedings will have a stay now.

01:24Well, yes, Pooja, remember the Supreme Court has both wrapped Rahul Gandhi

01:31and given him relief in this particular matter right now.

01:35What they have done is state the designation case trial in the trial court

01:40and have issued notice to the complainant to respond to Rahul Gandhi's petition.

01:45Now, at the same time, they have also asked Rahul Gandhi why he had made such a statement in the first place,

01:52how he had any information whatsoever about the territory being taken over by China

01:57and, more importantly, question, if you had any questions to ask,

02:01why would you not raise it in Parliament, you're a member of the Parliament.

02:04Why would you make such a statement in the media in the middle of a border clash?

02:09So, that's a clear rap coming in from the court.

02:12In fact, the court has gone to the extent of saying,

02:14if you would have too Indian, you would not have said something like this

02:17in the middle of a border clash.

02:20But, big relief for Rahul Gandhi for now, as the trial has been stayed,

02:25the Supreme Court will take up this matter,

02:27because, remember, Rahul Gandhi in his petition

02:28has raised legal objections to this defamation case.

02:32What he said is that a general person could not have filed a defamation case against him,

02:39he has not incited the Indian army,

02:41that he has asked questions about the Taiwan clash,

02:44he has asked questions on the basis of the statements that the media has made,

02:48that he has made the statement on the basis,

02:52in response to a question that the media person had asked him during the Bharat Jodhaya,

02:57and, therefore, he cannot be subjected to defamation case proceedings.

03:01And, on the legal grounds, the Supreme Court has given him the deed,

03:04it should stay on the trial, and it is here, this matter now, of peace.

03:10But, as you said, it is a huge political showdown.

03:12At this time, the government has denied that any territory was ceded to China,

03:16or was taken over by China,

03:18and that is also why the Supreme Court seems to have wrapped down, Rahul Gandhi,

03:22for making that statement and saying,

03:23and has said clearly, the bench of justice, that is Ankara has said very clearly,

03:27if you had any questions, why did you not raise that in Parliament,

03:30why make such a statement in the media?

03:32Because there is a certain expectation from our top politicians and parliamentarians,

03:37at least when it comes to sensitive border issues.

03:40For now, relief coming in,

03:41with the proceedings on stay in the trial court,

03:44as the Supreme Court has said.

03:45Anisha, thank you very much.

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