Say it is his responsibility to comment on issues of national interest
New Delhi: The I.N.D.I.A. bloc and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday rallied behind Rahul Gandhi, over the Supreme Court's reprimand, saying it was not up to the judges to decide who was a "true" Indian. The I.N.D.I.A. bloc parties termed as "unwarranted" the Supreme Court observations against Rahul Gandhi for his alleged remarks on the Army, and asserted it was the responsibility of political parties to comment on issues of national interest.
Priyanka Gandhi said it was the duty of an Opposition leader to question the government. "My brother would never speak against the Army, he holds them in the highest respect.” Of the row over the remarks that Rahul Gandhi made during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, she said: “It is a misinterpretation."
On Monday, hearing a case regarding Gandhi's statement that China had taken over 2,000 sq. km of Indian territory, Justice Dipankar Datta had observed, "How do you (Mr. Gandhi) get to know that 2,000 sq. km of Indian territory had been occupied by the Chinese? Were you there? Do you have any credible proof? If you are a true Indian, you would not say all these things". “The bench had also asked: “You are Leader of Opposition. Why don't you say things in Parliament, why do you have to say it on social media.”
In a press release, the Congress said that Tuesday's morning meeting of the I.N.D.I.A. floor leaders discussed these remarks.
"All the leaders of the India parties agreed that the sitting judge has made an extraordinary observation which is unwarranted on the democratic rights of political parties," the statement said.
"It is the responsibility of political parties especially the Leader of Opposition to comment on issues of national interest. When a government fails so spectacularly to defend our borders, it is every citizen's moral duty to hold it accountable," the statement added.
“When a government fails so spectacularly to defend our borders, it is every citizen's moral duty to hold it accountable,” it further said.
