In the ongoing criminal defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Vinayak Savarkar, a Special MP/MLA Court in Pune on Wednesday took on record a pursis filed by his lawyer Milind Pawar, expressing apprehension about Gandhi’s safety.
The plea cites recent remarks by BJP leaders RN Bittu, who allegedly called Gandhi a “terrorist,” and Tarvinder Marwah, who reportedly warned he could “face the same fate as his grandmother” if he did not “behave well.” It also highlights the complainant’s claimed links to both the Savarkar and Godse families, arguing that such connections, combined with the current political climate, pose a “clear and substantial” risk of harm or wrongful implication.
The pursis states Gandhi has faith in the judiciary but urges the court to remain aware of “forces, influences, and extraordinary circumstances” around the case. It warns against the possibility of “history repeating itself,” pointing to the Hindutva ideology allegedly followed by the complainant’s forebears and its past “unconstitutional” political gains.
It further alleges that adherents of this ideology have been involved in spreading caste and religious animosity, manipulating elections, and aiding industrialists at the expense of the poor. As Leader of the Opposition, the plea says, Gandhi’s stand against such policies could make him a target for “caste-based extremists, politically motivated industrialists, and Hindutva supporters.”
The court has taken note of the submission as proceedings continue.
