A fresh twist in a lingering legal tussle: Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Sessions Court has issued summons to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in a case of alleged provocative utterances during Karnataka’s 2023 polls.
At the heart is Kharge’s speech at Naregal rally in April 2023, accused by RSS affiliate Ravindra Gupta of spewing venom against the organization and PM Narendra Modi. Gupta pursued the matter doggedly after initial court rebuffs.
November 2024 saw Tis Hazari Court nix the complaint for lack of cognizance. December brought another denial for FIR. Now, the sessions court intervenes, setting February 27, 2025, for arguments.
This development tests Kharge’s leadership at a time when Congress seeks to consolidate. Critics from the ruling side hail it as justice; opponents decry it as vendetta.
India’s vibrant democracy thrives on debate, but boundaries blur in election fervor. Judicial oversight ensures rhetoric doesn’t cross into incitement.
As Kharge prepares his defense, the case spotlights how courts mediate free speech in polarized times. Expect intense scrutiny, with implications for campaign conduct nationwide.