NEW DELHI: The
Delhi high court
instructed the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday to make a decision on the latter's notice issued to Congress leader
Rahul Gandhi
within eight weeks for his "pickpocket" jibe at Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
, Union home minister
Amit Shah
, and businessman
Gautam Adani
during a rally on November 22. The HC noted that the statement is "not in good taste".
The Congress MP was sent notice by the poll body for allegedly violating the model code of conduct through his speech.
The HC was addressing a PIL seeking the registration of an FIR against Rahul for his "pickpocket" remarks and for also calling Modi "panauti" recently.
The petitioner, Bharat Nagar, informed the HC that the Congress MP made a speech levelling "heinous allegations" against people holding the "highest governmental positions", including the PM, referring to him as a "pickpocket".
A bench comprising acting Chief Justice
Manmohan
and Justice Mini Pushkarna acknowledged that while the alleged statements are inappropriate, since EC is examining the matter and has issued notice, the court prefers not to intervene.
The petitioner also sought the formulation of guidelines to prevent such "malpractice" by political leaders. The bench advised the petitioner and their lawyers to trust the people, emphasising that they are exercising their democratic right to respond to such statements. The court declined to issue specific directions, stating that people express their views during elections, and it is their democratic right to decide. However, the court agreed to set a time frame for EC to act, considering that the deadline for the Congress MP's reply had passed.
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