I.N.D.I.A. parties back Rahul, say it is his responsibility to comment on issues of national interest

The remarks came a day after the Supreme Court censured Gandhi over his alleged remarks about the Indian Army during his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

New Delhi: I.N.D.I.A. parties on Tuesday backed Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over Supreme Court's observations against him for his alleged remarks on the developments on China border, saying it is the responsibility of political parties to comment on issues of national interest.

At a meeting of the floor leaders, sources said the remarks of a Supreme Court judge came up for discussion and leaders felt that it was "unwarranted" and impacts democratic rights of the parties.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih on Monday had taken exception to Rahul's remarks that China has taken over 2,000 km of Indian land.

In a statement, Congress acknowledged the discussion about the remarks of the judge and said, "All the leaders of the India parties agreed that the sitting judge has made an extraordinary observation which is unwarranted on the democratic rights of political parties."

"It is the responsibility of political parties, especially the Leader of Opposition, to comment on issues of national interest. When a government fails so spectacularly to defend our borders, it is every citizen’s moral duty to hold it accountable," it said.

At the meeting attended by top leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul, sources said, the leaders also decided to discuss in detail how to take forward the protest against Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and other states.

Sources said a Left leader told the meeting that continuous disruption is not in the interest of the Opposition and they should start participating in the debates. However, a Congress leader responded that they cannot abruptly end the protest against the SIR and suggested that they should look at how the government is responding to them.

The Congress leader also said a protest march to the Election Commission is scheduled and one could think about recalibrating their stand after that. While the initial plan was to hold the protest march this Friday, it is now likely to be held on Monday as Congress is organising a protest against electoral "malpractices" in Bengaluru on August 8, which Rahul would be leading.