'Mahatma Gandhi used words 'your faithful servant' to British': SC pulls up Rahul Gandhi over Savarkar remarks

The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for his alleged remarks against freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, saying it would not allow such comments and warned of taking action on its own if it happens again.

This came a day after Rahul Gandhi approached the Supreme Court, challenging an Allahabad High Court order that refused to cancel the summons issued to him in the case.

The defamation case against Rahul Gandhi is based on his comments about Savarkar during a rally in Maharashtra’s Akola district on November 17, 2022, as part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Gandhi allegedly called Savarkar a “British servant” who received a pension from the colonial government.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan said, “Let’s not mock our freedom fighters.” The bench further asked senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, whether he knew that even Mahatma Gandhi used the words such as “your faithful servant” in his communications to the Britishers.

The court strongly advised the Congress MP to refrain from making such comments, saying, “You are a political leader. Why should you make comments like this? Don’t do this. If the intention wasn’t to provoke, then why make such statements?”

Gandhi’s lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued that the charges of promoting enmity and public mischief did not apply. But Justice Dipankar Datta questioned the logic, noting that even Mahatma Gandhi used the phrase “your faithful servant” when writing to the British Viceroy. “Would that make him a servant of the British?” the judge asked. He also pointed out that Indira Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother and former Prime Minister, had praised Savarkar in a letter.

The bench warned: “No more words on our freedom fighters. They gave us our freedom — this is not the way to treat them.”

Despite these strong remarks, the court stayed the Allahabad High Court’s order that refused to quash the trial court’s summons against Gandhi. It issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and the complainant, advocate Nripendra Pandey.

Justice Datta also criticised Gandhi’s statement, saying: “When you don’t know the history of India, you shouldn’t make such comments. In Maharashtra, Savarkar is worshipped by many.”

Singhvi clarified that Gandhi never intended to incite hatred or create enmity, and said the message from the court was “loud and clear.”

The case was filed by Pandey under charges including promoting enmity and public mischief. He accused Gandhi of deliberately insulting Savarkar as part of a conspiracy to defame him.

The Lucknow bench of the high court had earlier said Gandhi could seek relief by filing a revision plea before a sessions court, making intervention by the high court unnecessary. Gandhi approached the Supreme Court to challenge that decision.