New Delhi : Rahul Gandhi today told the Supreme Court that he did not blame the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on the RSS or the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh. Judges then indicated that they are likely to clear the Congress Vice-President of defamation charges next week on September 1.
The RSS is the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP. It sued Mr Gandhi for defamation over a speech he gave in 2014 while campaigning in Maharashtra for the general election that his party lost abysmally.
Mr Gandhi, 46, was reported as saying that the RSS had assassinated Gandhiji. Today, his lawyer, former union minister Kapil Sibal, told judges that Mr Gandhi had not blamed the RSS as in institution for the killing of the Father of the Nation, but "people associated with it."
"I hope wisdom will prevail upon him and others not to make such offensive remarks against a nationalist organisation," said union minister and BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu.
Last month, the top court warned Mr Gandhi that he was wrong if he had collectively blamed the RSS for the killing of Gandhiji in 1948 by Hindu nationalist Nathuram Godse. After the assassination at Delhi's Birla House, the RSS was banned till it was exonerated. Godse was hanged.
The RSS is the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP. It sued Mr Gandhi for defamation over a speech he gave in 2014 while campaigning in Maharashtra for the general election that his party lost abysmally.
Mr Gandhi, 46, was reported as saying that the RSS had assassinated Gandhiji. Today, his lawyer, former union minister Kapil Sibal, told judges that Mr Gandhi had not blamed the RSS as in institution for the killing of the Father of the Nation, but "people associated with it."
"I hope wisdom will prevail upon him and others not to make such offensive remarks against a nationalist organisation," said union minister and BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu.
Advertisement
Last month, the top court warned Mr Gandhi that he was wrong if he had collectively blamed the RSS for the killing of Gandhiji in 1948 by Hindu nationalist Nathuram Godse. After the assassination at Delhi's Birla House, the RSS was banned till it was exonerated. Godse was hanged.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Pics: Rahul Gandhi's Family Lunch At Iconic Delhi Restaurant Rahul Gandhi Faces Delhi Police Crime Branch Probe Over Parliament Tussle "Rahul Gandhi Obsessed With Businessman, Stalled Parliament": Kiren Rijiju To NDTV 3 Khalistani Terrorists, Who Attacked Punjab Cops, Killed In UP Encounter Bashar Al-Assad's Wife Files For Divorce, Wants To Return To UK: Report 3 Marriages, Rs 1.25 Crore: How 'Looteri Dulhan' Targeted Rich Men BJP MPs, Injured In Parliament Stand-Off, Discharged From Hospital After 5 Days "It's Love...": Kate Middleton's Christmas Message After A Difficult Year National Farmer's Day: Know History, Significance And Theme Of This Day Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.