SC pulls up Rahul Gandhi for 'irresponsible' remarks on Savarkar, stays HC order
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his "irresponsible" remarks on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, saying "let's not mock our freedom fighters".
The top court, however, stayed the criminal proceedings against Rahul Gandhi in a case lodged in Uttar Pradesh for his remarks.
A bench comprising justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan also warned Rahul Gandhi against making any such statements in the future, as the apex court may take a suo motu cognisance of such remarks.
The bench asked senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Congress leader, as to whether Rahul Gandhi knew that even Mahatama Gandhi used words like "your faithful servant" in his communications with the Britishers.
The top court issued notices to complainant Nripendra Pandey, who filed a complaint accusing Rahul Gandhi for "intentionally" insulting Savarkar during a rally, and the Uttar Pradesh government, on the Congress leader's plea seeking their responses.
Rahul Gandhi moved the apex court challenging an order of the Allahabad High Court, which refused to quash summons issued against him in the case.
A case under various penal provisions for alleged offences like 'promoting enmity between classes' and 'public mischief' was lodged against Rahul Gandhi by Pandey, a lawyer by profession.
The case stems from the Congress leader's comments on Savarkar made on November 17, 2022, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra at a rally in Maharashtra's Akola district.
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IMF approves USD 206 million emergency funding for cyclone-hit Sri Lanka's recovery
Colombo (PTI): The IMF has approved an emergency funding of USD 206 million under its rapid finance instrument to help Sri Lanka “address the urgent needs arising from the catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah and preserve macroeconomic stability”.
The cyclone caused widespread destruction in the island nation and left over 643 people dead.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the disaster has created urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs, generating significant fiscal pressures and balance-of-payments needs.
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The emergency financial support provided by the IMF under the rapid finance instrument will help address these pressures, it said.
The IMF added that the cyclone devastation hit when the Fifth Review of Sri Lanka’s USD 2.9 billion bailout was nearing completion.
“Given the time needed to assess the economic impact of the cyclone and examine how an IMF-supported programme can best support Sri Lanka’s recovery and reconstruction efforts while preserving objectives and policy priorities, the Fifth Review has been deferred," it said.
"An IMF mission team will visit Sri Lanka in early 2026 to resume discussions,” it added.
The 48-month extended fund facility deal with the IMF in March 2023 carried hard reforms to Sri Lanka's welfare-based governance.
It was signed after Sri Lanka plunged into an unprecedented economic meltdown with its first-ever sovereign default.
Several hours before the IMF decision, the parliament here approved without a vote a supplementary estimate of LKR 500 billion, which the government said was required to restore the livelihoods of those affected by the disaster.
