Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi arrived in Guwahati on Thursday to appear before a local court in a defamation case filed against him by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He went all guns blazing at them for their ideology, saying he will not be deterred and will continue to fight for the poor, unemployed youth, for the unity and harmony of this country, no matter how many cases are filed against him.
“I have always been against the ideology of RSS. Not just RSS, but every other organisation which aims at dividing the nation. I am for the unity of this country,” he said.
“These people (RSS) want that I don’t fight for the farmers, but I can’t do that. It is in my DNA, it is inside me. I am not scared. I will not be deterred. I am happy… let them put as many cases against me as they want,” he said.
Accusing the government of working for the betterment of only 10-15 people, Gandhi said “acche din (good days) have come only for those people while farmers, labourers and the unemployed are sad”.
However, Gandhi was appeared as an accused before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Kamrup and was granted Personal Recognisance (PR) bond as he appeared personally and in deference to his status as a Member of Parliament, his lawyer Anshuman Bora said outside the high security Court.
“We had filed a bail application for him but as Rahul Gandhi appeared in person the court allowed him to go on PR bond. The next date of hearing has been fixed for November 5”, Bora said.
The complainant was Bibhag Chanchalak of RSS, Anjan Bora’s, counsel Bijon Mahajan told journalists, “We did not oppose the bail application as per the complainant’s advice“.
CJM Sanjoy Hazarika in his August 6 order had stated. The statement of Rahul Gandhi so published in dailies as well as in media appears to be defamatory in nature
“And, therefore, the complainant prima facie fulfils the ingredients of Section 499 IPC. And accordingly I find sufficient material to proceed against Rahul Gandhi to face trial under Section 500 IPC.” Section 500 of the IPC contains quantum of punishment which may extend to two years or with fine or with both.
