Top leaders of the INDIA alliance gathered to respond to the Supreme Court’s recent criticism of Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The court had questioned Gandhi’s comments made in 2022, where he accused the government of failing to act after a violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh’s Yangtse region.
Duty to Question the Government
The alliance leaders strongly defended Gandhi, stating that raising national security concerns is not only the duty of the Opposition but also the moral responsibility of every citizen and political leader. They emphasized that when the government does not act or avoids answering key issues—especially about national territory and border security—political leaders must speak out.
Meeting at Kharge’s Office
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi confirmed that the INDIA bloc leaders met at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s office. They primarily discussed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. However, Gogoi noted that the recent comments by a Supreme Court judge targeting Rahul Gandhi also became a key focus of the meeting. “Our leaders felt that the statement of the Supreme Court judge against Rahul Gandhi was very surprising,” Gogoi told reporters.
Joint Statement Planned
Gogoi announced that the INDIA bloc would issue a joint press statement in response to the court’s comments. He said the remarks appeared to limit the rights of political parties and discourage leaders from questioning the government on critical issues. “The duty of the Leader of Opposition is to raise national issues. When the ruling party avoids answering questions on border security, people have the right to question,” Gogoi asserted.
Supreme Court’s Remarks on Gandhi
The controversy began a day earlier when a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih pulled up Rahul Gandhi for his December 2022 remarks. Justice Datta questioned the source of Gandhi’s claim that 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory had been captured by China. “If you are a true Indian, you would not say this,” Justice Datta remarked. “What is the credible material? Can you say all this during a border conflict?”
What Gandhi Had Said
During his Bharat Jodo Yatra on December 16, 2022, Gandhi had made serious accusations against the government. He said: “People ask about Bharat Jodo Yatra, about Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. But no one asks about China capturing 2,000 square kilometres of Indian land, killing 20 Indian soldiers, and thrashing our troops in Arunachal. The Indian media won’t question them. Isn’t that the truth? The nation is watching.”
The INDIA bloc has stood firmly behind Rahul Gandhi, saying political leaders must be allowed to question the government—especially on national security and that judicial remarks should not restrict democratic rights.
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