The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced on Wednesday that it will file a contempt petition against Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for her recent remarks made in defense of her brother, Rahul Gandhi, following observations made by the Supreme Court.
BJP MP and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra alleged that Priyanka Gandhi’s public statements amounted to contempt of court. He stated that she had made “irresponsible” comments about the judiciary without understanding the intent of the Court’s observations.
“She has committed contempt of court by making so many statements before the media. Therefore, we are going to file a contempt petition against her… The petition will be filed by the Bar and the lawyers. The public of this country will not tolerate such irresponsible statements,” Mishra said while speaking to the media.
These remarks followed a statement made by Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday, defending Rahul Gandhi after the Supreme Court expressed disapproval of his comments made in 2022 about the India-China border situation and the Indian Army. Priyanka claimed that the matter was being misinterpreted and emphasized that her brother holds the Indian Army in the highest regard.
“They do not decide who a true Indian is. It is the job of the Opposition Leader to ask questions and challenge the government. My brother would never say anything against the Army… It is a misinterpretation,” she said.
The controversy stems from Rahul Gandhi’s remarks during the Bharat Jodo Yatra on December 16, 2022, where he alleged that China had captured 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory, killed 20 Indian soldiers, and attacked troops in Arunachal Pradesh. He also criticized the Indian media for not questioning the government over these issues.
On Monday, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih questioned the credibility of Gandhi’s claims, stating that such remarks were unbecoming of a “true Indian.”
“How do you get to know that China occupied 2000 square kilometres of Indian territory? What is the credible material? If you are a true Indian, you would not say this,” Justice Datta said, while expressing concern over such statements during a time of border conflict.
With the BJP now preparing a legal response through a contempt petition, the matter has escalated into a full-blown political and legal dispute.
