Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has directed Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to appear in connection with allegations of hate speech at a Karnataka rally last year. The notice comes after a prolonged legal battle initiated by an RSS worker.
Ravindra Gupta, the complainant, accused Kharge of targeting the RSS and PM Modi with derogatory and provocative statements during an April 2023 event in Naregal amid the Karnataka assembly elections. Gupta claims the speech violated laws against promoting enmity.
The journey to this point has been circuitous. Tis Hazari Court dismissed the plea in November 2024, but Gupta’s appeal revived it at the sessions level. A prior December 2024 hearing also saw no FIR ordered against Kharge.
The court’s February 27, 2025, date marks a critical juncture. Kharge, a seasoned politician, faces this amid Congress’s efforts to regroup post-election setbacks.
Political observers see this as part of a broader pattern where opposition leaders’ speeches are scrutinized, often leading to courtroom dramas. Supporters of Kharge dismiss it as a politically motivated vendetta by the BJP-RSS ecosystem.
With elections always around the corner in India, such cases underscore the razor-thin line between fiery oratory and legal overreach. Kharge’s response could influence public perception and his party’s narrative on free speech.
