Rahul Gandhi vs RSS: SC asks RaGa to regret or face defamation trial

The honourable Supreme Court of India has asked Congress scion Rahul Gandhi to either express regret for his comments holding the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) responsible for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination or be ready for a trail for defamation.

"RSS people killed Gandhiji and today their people (BJP) talk of him...They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhiji," Rahul had said while he was addressing a public rally in Thane in March 2014.

"Why did you make a sweeping statement against the RSS branding everyone associated with the organization in the same brush," an SC bench asked Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, when it was hearing a defamation case that has been filed against him based on his remarks.

"You can't make wholesale denunciation of an organization," it added.

Also read: Party must work like Apple and not RSS: Rahul Gandhi

From Rahul Gandhi's side, the counsel said that he was right in stating as what he said was a historical fact, and can be found in government records, as per TNN.

However, the court has asked Rahul about the public good in stating it. It added that if Gandhi is not ready to regret for saying this, he should be ready to defend himself in a trial.

Rahul had requested the bench of Justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman for a two-week adjournment, which was refused. The bench has scheduled the next hearing on July 27.

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