A special MP-MLA court in Lucknow has summoned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case concerning his remarks about the Indian Army. The court has directed him to appear on March 24.

The case was filed by Uday Shankar Srivastava, a former director of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), who alleged that Gandhi's statements during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in December 2022 were derogatory and tarnished the Army’s reputation.

Controversial Statement and Army’s Response

The controversy stems from Gandhi’s interaction with reporters on December 9, 2022, where he reportedly stated:

"I wagered a bet with my friend that the press will not ask me anything about China. The press will not ask me anything about a country which has usurped 2,000 sq km of Indian land, a country that killed our soldiers in our country and a country that is attacking our soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh. I was right. The country is watching. Don’t think otherwise."

The remarks drew sharp reactions, prompting an official response from the Indian Army three days later. On December 12, 2022, the Army issued a statement clarifying that while Chinese forces had attempted to enter Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian Army had effectively countered them and forced their retreat.

Court Takes Cognizance of Defamation Complaint

Srivastava contended that Gandhi’s statements discredited the Indian Army’s dedication to protecting national borders. Based on his complaint, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) took cognizance of the matter and issued a summons, requiring Gandhi’s presence in court as an accused in the case.