A complaint has been lodged in a local court against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his alleged remarks at a U.S. university describing Lord Ram as a “mythological & fictional figure.”
The petitioner has demanded the registration of an FIR under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, claiming that Gandhi’s statement amounts to hate speech and hurts the sentiments of Sanatan Dharma followers.
The complaint, filed by advocate Harishankar Pandey in the MP-MLA court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Neeraj Kumar Tripathi, also names the All India Congress Committee (AICC) as a party. The court has scheduled the first hearing for May 19.
The Allegation
Pandey alleges that during a lecture at Brown University in Boston on April 21, Gandhi referred to Lord Ram and events from the Ramayan era as “mythological” and “imaginary.” The statement, he said, deeply offended the religious sentiments of Hindus, particularly those who identify as Sanatanis.
“I read about it in a local newspaper,” said Pandey. “What Rahul Gandhi said amounts to hate speech against our religious beliefs.”
Legal Action Sought
The complaint seeks action against Gandhi under the following BNS sections:
Section 196 – Promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, etc.
Section 351 – Criminal intimidation
Section 353 – Statement conducing to public mischief
Section 356 – Defamation
Pandey said the court has agreed to take up the matter and that notices will be issued to Rahul Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai, who hails from Varanasi.
The Congress party has yet to issue an official response to the complaint.
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