New Delhi [India], August 4 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court for pulling up senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks about the Indian Army during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in December 2022.
"I express my gratitude to the Supreme Court because people sitting in high positions are spreading rumours and speaking against the interest of the country; this should stop. We have seen the way Rahul Gandhi kept saying, without any evidence, that China has grabbed India's land," said CM Fadnavis.
"Due to this, the morale of our soldiers is affected because when they are saving the country, such a big leader gives false statements. Rahul Gandhi continuously speaks the same language as Pakistan and China. This is very wrong. This is against the interests of the country. He is the leader of a very big party... Now, when the Supreme Court has remanded him, maybe he will change his attitude from now on," he added.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court pulled up the Congress leader over his alleged remarks on the Indian army.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih expressed disapproval of Gandhi's remarks, saying how does he know the Chinese occupied 2000 square kilometres of land and said that a true Indian wouldn't say such a thing.
Justice Datta said, "How do you get to know that 2000 square kilometres of Indian territory was occupied by China? What is the credible material? If you are a true indian, you would not say this. When there is a conflict across borders... can you say all this?"
The bench also asked senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, why Gandhi didn't say all this in Parliament and why on social media. "Whatever you have to say, why don't you say it in the Parliament? Why do you have to say this in the social media posts?" asked Justice Datta.
Gandhi had made the remarks on December 16, 2022, during his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.Gandhi had said, "People will ask about Bharat Jodo Yatra, here and there, Ashok Gahlot and Sachin Pilot and whatnot. But they will not ask a single question about China capturing 2000 square kilometres of Indian territory, "killing 20 Indian soldiers" and "thrashing our soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh".
"But the Indian press doesn't ask a question to them about this. Isn't it true? The nation is watching all this. Don't pretend that people don't know," he added.