The court is likely to frame charges against the Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case, PTI reported
Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrived in Mumbai this morning ahead of a hearing at a magistrate court in Bhiwandi, Thane, in a criminal defamation case filed against him for his alleged remarks against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the BJP. The case was filed against Mr Gandhi over his alleged statement at an election rally in March, 2014, where
he linked the RSS to Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. The court is likely to frame charges against the Congress chief in the defamation case, news agency PTI reported citing Narayan Iyer, a criminal lawyer from Bhiwandi appearing for Rahul Gandhi.
Mr Gandhi will also address the Congress booth workers later in the day.
Here are the updates on the hearing in the defamation case against Rahul Gandhi:
Some pointers of Rahul Gandhi's address are:
- Like Mumbai walks with everyone, Congress walks with everyone
- When congress was in power you could speak about us openly, fearlessly. You cannot do that under the Modi government.
- PM Modi said in one year there will be employment. 2 crore people were supposed to be employed. Yet in the LS, the ministers say in 8 years this is the highest rate of unemployment.
- In 24 hours, China gives jobs to 50,000 people and the BJP gives jobs to just 450 people in 24 hours in entire India.
Watch Rahul Gandhi address the booth workers here:
Take a look at the pictures from Rahul Gandhi's meeting with booth workers:
Rahul Gandhi welcomed with a Shiv Murti at Congress booth workers meeting.
Thousands have gathered at Rahul Gandhi's rally where he is to address booth-level workers:
Congress's Twitter handle also tweeted a video of the party chief addressing crowds outside court:
Rahul Gandhi tweeted of his upcoming meeting with the booth workers:
Rahul Gandhi also took a swipe at PM Modi's radio programme 'Mann ki Baat' and said the prime minister does not speak about 'kaam ki baat' like providing employment to youth or safeguarding farmers.
Let the BJP and RSS slap as many cases as they want against me, we will fight them and win: Rahul Gandhi outside Bhiwandi court.
Rahul Gandhi addressed the crowds after leaving the courts. A few pointers of his short speech are:
- Our (Congress) fight is against poverty
- PM Modi does not talk about inflation and protection of our farmers. Our fight is against that
- Petrol prices are keeping on increasing, unemployment is on the rise, our fight is against that
- The policies of the prime minister are because of which the farmers are distressed and we will fight against this every step of the way.
The next date of hearing is August 10, says news agency ANI.
Rahul Gandhi has left the Bhiwandi Court post hearing.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi met the wife and daughter of late Congress leader Manoj Mhatre in Bhiwandi.
Hoardings proclaiming Rahul Gandhi as the 'Future Prime Minister' had greeted him on the roads outside the Mumbai Airport to Thane as he was accorded a warm welcome by the senior Congress leaders.
Rahul Gandhi, on his arrival, was greeted by Maharashtra leaders including Ashok Chavan, Mohan Prakash, Prithviraj Chavan, Radha Krishna Vikhe Patil, Manikrao Thakre, Sanjay Nirupam and Gurudas Kamat. Take a look at few of the pictures:
Congress's Twitter handle also tweeted a video of Rahul Gandhi arriving at the court. Take a look at the video here:
Rahul Gandhi has pleaded not guilty to the criminal defamation case. Charges have been framed under section IPC 499 and 500.
Rahul Gandhi has admitted in court again that he said the things he is accused of. He had previously said, "I stand by each and every word. I will never take my words back."
Rahul Gandhi has arrived at Bhiwandi court for the hearing.
Rahul Gandhi was given a warm welcome in Mumbai upon his arrival:
The RSS had 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. Rahul Gandhi, however, told the court he would "never" take back his words.
"I stand by
each and every word. I will never take my words back... I am ready to go to trial," said Mr Gandhi to judges through his lawyer, former union minister Kapil Sibal.
Rahul Gandhi had earlier moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the case. The top court in July 2016 said he should not have resorted to "collective denunciation" of an organisation, and would have to face trial if he did not express regret for his remark.
While trial in such matters are normally held summarily, Rahul Gandhi filed an application April seeking for it to be conducted as a "summons trial".
Rajesh Kunte said Rahul Gandhi's alleged statement harmed the reputation of the RSS.
The defamation case arises out of Rahul Gandhi's alleged statement at an election rally on March 6, 2014, linking the RSS - the BJP's ideological mentor - to Mahatma Gandhi's assassination.
On May 2, the magistrate court had asked Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on June 12. The court had that day heard arguments on Rahul Gandhi's application, seeking a detailed recording of evidence instead of a 'summary trial' (where only the summary of evidence is recorded by court), PTI reported.
The defamation case against Rahul Gandhi was filed by Rajesh Kunte, a local worker of the RSS.
Congress tweeted this morning that the party chief will be addressing booth workers later in the day. The party workers welcomed him with flowers.