Sikh Remarks Row: Allahabad HC Reserves Verdict on FIR Plea Against Rahul Gandhi
The Allahabad High Court has reserved its decision on a plea seeking an FIR against Rahul Gandhi for his comments on the Sikh community.
The Allahabad High Court has reserved its verdict on a legal petition seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. The plea stems from allegedly controversial remarks made by the leader regarding the Sikh community during a visit to the United States.
The decision comes after a single-judge bench, presided over by Justice Vikram D Chauhan, concluded hearings. Arguments from both sides lasted approximately one hour, with Advocate Satyendra Kumar Tripathi representing the petitioner, Nageshwar Mishra, and Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal appearing for the state government.
The Legal Journey: From Varanasi to the High Court
The legal battle began when Varanasi resident Nageshwar Mishra and others filed a complaint at the Sarnath police station, which failed to result in an FIR. This led the petitioners to approach the judiciary.
The case has seen a series of dismissals and appeals:
- Initial Dismissal: On November 28, 2024, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM-II) dismissed the application, noting that because the remarks were allegedly made in the US, they fell outside the court's territorial jurisdiction.
- Revision and Challenge: A revision petition was admitted by the MP/MLA court on July 21, 2025. Rahul Gandhi challenged this order in the High Court, but his petition was dismissed.
- Second Dismissal: The matter was heard again by the ACJM-IV court in Varanasi, where ACJM Neeraj Tripathi dismissed it once more, citing that the specific date and time of the alleged incident were not provided.
- Current Status: Following another revision petition filed before the ACJM-V court, the matter eventually reached the Allahabad High Court under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
What Were the Controversial Remarks?
The petition centers on statements made by Rahul Gandhi during his 2024 trip to the United States. On September 10, 2024, Gandhi spoke about the concerns of the Sikh community in India.
He questioned whether Sikhs in India have the right to wear their turbans and 'kadas' and whether they would be permitted to visit Gurudwaras. He asserted that these concerns are not unique to Sikhs but are shared across various religions.
Gandhi further targeted the BJP and the RSS, claiming that the BJP does not accept that India belongs to everyone. He described India as a 'Union' as defined by the Constitution—a tapestry of diverse histories, music, and traditions. He alleged that the RSS views certain states, languages (such as Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, and Manipuri), and religions as inferior to others, which he claimed is the core of the current conflict.
Rahul Gandhi’s Defense
In a written reply submitted to the MP/MLA court on August 25, Rahul Gandhi strongly denied any wrongdoing. He characterized the revision petition filed by Nageshwar Mishra as "politically motivated" and argued that there were no legal grounds to initiate criminal proceedings.
"I am a true patriot," Gandhi stated, emphasizing his deep respect for all religions and communities, including the Sikh community.
He maintained that his comments were not intended to offend, but rather to highlight the interests and significant contributions of the Sikh community to the nation.