Once again upholding themselves as the pioneer of neutrality and democracy, the Supreme Court has taken an unapologetic stance against those indulging in illegal acts. The apex court has issued a contempt notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on the Rafale judgment while stating that those remarks were “incorrectly attributed” to the court.
In his newest attempt to build his political career on the basis of not just blatant lies, but utter nonsense, Congress President Rahul Gandhi had gotten himself involved in contempt of court case. On the basis of his imbecile remarks regarding the Rafale jet matter, BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi had moved the Supreme Court accusing Rahul Gandhi of contempt of court.
This grave reaction of the Congress heir came in light of a mere admittance of secret documents by the apex court in connection with the Rafale deal. In his impatience to declare the perpetrator, by disregarding the truth, Rahul Gandhi had strangely interpreted the Supreme Court order to confirm his allegation that PM Modi had stolen Rs 30,000 crore from the Indian Air Force to give to Anil Ambani. He had stated, “The SC has made it clear that chowkidarji was involved in the theft”. This was a clear case of contempt of the court since the apex court had stated anything but that. On the basis of the petition of criminal contempt of court filed by Meenakshi Lekhi, the bench had asked for clarification of the matter stating, “We deem it proper to ask the respondent for his explanation which will be laid before us on or before 22.04.2019”.
In light of this, Rahul Gandhi had attempted to justify his statement. He said that the comments were made “in the heat of political campaigning”. “My political opponents wrongly projected that I had deliberately and intentionally suggested that the Supreme Court had said ‘Chowkidar chor hai’. Nothing could be farther from my mind,” Rahul Gandhi had said in his affidavit. However, these were just futile arguments as the statement of Rahul Gandhi had clearly indicated this. Whether it was in the heat of political campaigning or otherwise, the fact was that the Congress heir had attributed a certain statement to the Supreme Court, a statement that was not only created on false notions but had also attempted to malign the name of the current Prime Minister.
Rahul Gandhi also said that his comments were mostly in response to BJP claiming victory after the court’s order in December giving the government a clean chit in the case. The court had pronounced, “In view of our findings on all the three aspects (namely, the decision-making process, difference in pricing and the choice of Indian Offset Partner), and having heard the matter in detail, we find no reason for any intervention by this Court on the sensitive issue of purchase of 36 defence aircrafts by the Indian Government. Perception of individuals cannot be the basis of a fishing and roving enquiry by this Court, especially in such matters. We, thus, dismiss all the writ petitions.”
BJP claiming victory after the court’s December order was nothing out of the ordinary as this was exactly what has happened. The court had dismissed all charges and had given a clean chit to the current government, which was a cause of celebration.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohtagi appearing for the BJP’s Meenakshi Lekhi had seen right through the crocodile tears and had argued that there was no apparent apology and that it was a mere ‘lipservice of an apology.’
CJI Ranjan Gogoi, deciding the case on merits after hearing the senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi on behalf of Rahul Gandhi along with Mukul Rohtagi was rendered unsatisfied with Singhvi’s case. In this regard, the apex court issued a notice for contempt to Rahul Gandhi. In light of this, the Supreme Court has decided to list the contempt petition along with the review petition on 30th April, 2019.
With the clean chit that Modi government received from the court as well as the CAG, the government was unperturbed by the admittance of the documents and ready to prove its integrity in the review petition on its own merits, emerging victorious. Rahul Gandhi however, in his impatience, and sheer disregard for the truth has hurt his own case, as has been his precedence, time and again.