In a significant legal development, a Delhi court has issued a notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, seeking his response in a case accusing him of delivering an inflammatory speech during the 2023 Karnataka election campaign. The Rouse Avenue Court took this step after a complainant challenged an earlier dismissal by a lower court.
The controversy stems from an election rally in Naregal, Karnataka, in April 2023, where Kharge allegedly made provocative remarks against the RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An RSS member, Ravindra Gupta, filed the initial complaint, claiming the speech was designed to incite hatred and communal tension.
Earlier, in November 2024, the Tis Hazari Court in Delhi rejected the complaint, refusing to take cognizance. Undeterred, Gupta appealed to the Rouse Avenue Sessions Court, which has now summoned Kharge for a hearing scheduled on February 27, 2025.
This isn’t the first time Kharge has faced such scrutiny. In December 2024, another court declined to order an FIR against him in a related matter. The case highlights ongoing tensions between political rivals, with accusations flying over the nature of campaign rhetoric.
Legal experts note that courts often exercise caution in speech-related cases during elections, balancing free expression with public order. Kharge’s legal team is expected to argue that the remarks were part of legitimate political discourse.
As the hearing approaches, all eyes are on how this unfolds, potentially impacting Congress’s strategy ahead of future polls. The outcome could set precedents for handling inflammatory speech allegations in Indian politics.