Rahul rebuked by SC on 'Chowkidar' attack, petitioner Meenakshi Lekhi doubles down

After the Supreme Court cautioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while dismissing the contempt proceeding against him and accepting his unconditional apology, the petitioner in the case - BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi spoke to Republic TV. She said that good sense must prevail on the grand-old party after the verdict. She added that the party should not make anything personal even if they are resorting to politics.

"Our stand is vindicated. We felt that the institutional authority of the court was misused. and the court admitted that Rahul Gandhi should not have said. He issued three apology. The last which was correctly worded was accepted by the court. The court observed that good sense might prevail on Rahul Gandhi," Lekhi said. 

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What is the Supreme Court's verdict?

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the contempt proceeding against Rahul Gandhi which was filed by BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi. In the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress leader attributed his ‘Chowkidar chor hai’ jibe against Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Apex Court. Following this, Lekhi filed a contempt plea against the leader. After the SC issued a contempt notice against Gandhi, the latter tendered an apology seeking closure of the proceedings. The top court has now accepted his apology and said that it is unfortunate that the contemnor made these statements. 

Pronouncing the judgement, Justice Kaul said the contemnor should have been more careful. The top court observed that a person holding such an important position should be more careful. The Court also said that no Court should be dragged in any political discourse.

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What was the case against Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while addressing the media after filing his nomination papers from Amethi for the Lok Sabha elections, earlier this year had attributed the 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' jibe to the Supreme Court. In the 4 minutes 20 seconds clip, Rahul Gandhi said: "Ab kuch din pehle Pradhan Mantri Ji ka ek interview aaya tha jisme unhone kaha ke Supreme Court ne mujhe clean chit de hai.  Aaj Supreme Court ne clear kar diya hai ke Chowkidar ji ne chori karvaye hai. Supreme Court ne accept kiya hai ke Rafale mamle mai koi na koi corruption, koi na koi bhrashtachar hua hai. Aur jaise ke mai pehle se keh raha hoon, aagar Rafale mamle mai investigation hua toh do naam hai: Narendra Modi Ji and Anil Ambani. Mujhe bohot khushi ho rahe hai ke jo mai mahino se keh raha hoon ke jo Hindustan ke Pradhan Matri ji ne Air Force ka paisa chori karke Anil Ambani ji ko diya hai, 30,000 crore diya hai. Iss baat ko Supreme Court ne maan liya hai aur vo ab investigation karne ja rahe hai. Mai rooz unko debate ke liye challenge kar raha hoon. Narendra Modi ji Supreme Court ne aapke baare mai kaha hai ke aapne bhrashtachar kiya hai aur aapne Anil Ambani Ji ko paisa diya hai."

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