'Fighting Indian State itself' remark: Sambhal court asks Rahul Gandhi to reply by May 7
Sambhal (UP), Apr 4 (PTI): A court in Sambhal on Friday directed Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to file his reply by May 7 over his controversial remarks about "fighting the Indian State itself".
During the inauguration of the Congress' new headquarters in Delhi on January 15, Gandhi alleged that the BJP and the RSS have captured every institution of the country and said, "We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian State itself."
Hindu Shakti Dal national president Simran Gupta moved the application before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Special MP-MLA Court) at Chandausi in Sambhal, her lawyer earlier said.
Speaking to PTI, Gupta said, "On January 15, Leader of Opposition (in the Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi, during the inauguration of the Congress' new headquarters in Delhi, had said that 'our fight is not only with the RSS and the BJP but also with India'."
This comment demonstrates disrespect towards the citizens and democracy of the country, the Hindu Shakti Dal chief said.
"It mocks the people and poses a threat to the unity and integrity of India. This statement has hurt the sentiments of people across the country, due to which I first complained to the District Magistrate of Sambhal, SP Sambhal and others.
"But, my complaint was not heard, so I filed a case against Rahul Gandhi on January 23 in Chandausi Court, Sambhal. The court had asked Rahul Gandhi to appear on April 4. Today, the court has issued a notice and asked him to file a reply in this matter by May 7," Gupta said.
The Hindu Shakti Dal chief's lawyer Sachin Goyal told PTI, "Simran Gupta had filed a case against Rahul Gandhi in the court in which the Additional District and Sessions Judge Nirbhay Narain Rai, while accepting the case, had issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi (on March 20) and directed him to appear on April 4 or file his reply. Today, the court has given the date of May 7 in this case and directed that Rahul Gandhi should file his reply by May 7."
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Karnataka Assembly passes Social Boycott Prevention Bill
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill unanimously.
The bill was introduced in the House by the Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa on December 12.
The bill defines social boycott as a gesture or an act, whether oral or written, of any social discrimination between the members of the community.
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The bill proposes three years of imprisonment and a fine extending up to Rs 1 lakh. It also prohibits people from gathering, assembling, or congregating at any time and at any place with the view or intention to deliberate on the issue of imposing social boycott on any member of the community. It prohibits gathering to impose social boycott.
The bill also says that if the accused is convicted, the court should hear the victim on the quantum of sentence and then only pass the sentence.
During the discussion, Mahadevappa termed the bill historic and said the aim of the bill is to bring equality in society and to protect backward people from further getting marginalised through social boycott.
The BJP and the JD(S) MLAs welcomed the bill.
