New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi today told the Supreme Court that he is ready to be tried on charges of defaming the ruling BJP's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS.
Just 15 months ago, Mr Gandhi, who is No 2 in the Congress, had asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the criminal case filed against him for blaming the RSS, in a pre-election speech in 2014, for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.
The RSS said that it could withdraw the case if he states publicly that he does not blame it as an institution for the death of the Mahatma. Mr Gandhi said that's not an option.
The BJP and the RSS today said that Mr Gandhi's actions reflect a state of constant confusion. Why did he ask the Supreme Court to drop the case against him, only to backpedal today, they asked. "This is another u-turn by Rahul Gandhi. It shows that the Congress is not ready to face the truth. If he is ready to face trial now, why did they avoid it for two years," challenged MG Vaidya, the top ideologue of the RSS.
That assertion was claimed by the BJP and the RSS as evidence of Mr Gandhi's backtracking on what they describe as a mistake for which the Congress leader must publicly apologise.
Just 15 months ago, Mr Gandhi, who is No 2 in the Congress, had asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the criminal case filed against him for blaming the RSS, in a pre-election speech in 2014, for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.
The RSS said that it could withdraw the case if he states publicly that he does not blame it as an institution for the death of the Mahatma. Mr Gandhi said that's not an option.
The BJP and the RSS today said that Mr Gandhi's actions reflect a state of constant confusion. Why did he ask the Supreme Court to drop the case against him, only to backpedal today, they asked. "This is another u-turn by Rahul Gandhi. It shows that the Congress is not ready to face the truth. If he is ready to face trial now, why did they avoid it for two years," challenged MG Vaidya, the top ideologue of the RSS.
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That assertion was claimed by the BJP and the RSS as evidence of Mr Gandhi's backtracking on what they describe as a mistake for which the Congress leader must publicly apologise.
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