Lawyer makes U-turn on Rahul's 'threat to life' plea, Congress says was filed 'without consent'

Mumbai: After claiming that the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha faces threat from the followers of V D Savarkar and Nathuram Godse, Rahul Gandhi's lawyer on Wednesday said he will withdraw the statement filed in a court, with the Congress saying that its leader has "strong objections" to the statement submitted on his behalf.

Lawyer Milind Pawar issued a statement saying he would be withdrawing the 'pursis', a written statement, filed in a Pune court on Thursday saying his client has taken "strong exception" to filing the statement that was made without his consent.

Rahul is facing a defamation case filed by Savarkar's grand-nephew who claimed that the Congress leader has made disparaging comments against the Hindutva ideologue.

Congress Media and Publicity Department Chairman Pawan Khera said, the lawyer of Rahul "presented the matter of danger to his life in court without his consent" and Rahul has "strong objections to this". Khera said the lawyer would withdraw this statement in court.

"The contents of the pursis were drafted by me without consulting my client Rahul Gandhi. My client has taken strong exception to filing of this pursis dated August 13 and has expressed his disagreement with the contents of the pursis," Pawar said in his statement. "I shall file a formal application tomorrow (Thursday) for withdrawal of the said pursis before the court," he added.

Earlier in the application, Pawar said, "it cannot be ruled out that certain persons inspired by the unconstitutional ideology and views of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, and possessing the same dangerous mindset as Nathuram and Gopal Godse, may pose a threat to Gandhi’s life."

According to the application filed in the court, "there is little doubt that the complainant, his great-grandfathers (the Godses), those connected with the ideology of Vinayak Savarkar, and some followers of Savarkar who are presently in power, may harbor hostility or resentment towards Gandhi", as Rahul has taken on the ruling BJP and the RSS.

"In light of the documented history of violent and anti-constitutional tendencies linked to the complainant's lineage, and considering the prevailing political climate, there exists a clear, reasonable, and substantial apprehension that Rahul Gandhi may face harm, wrongful implication, or other forms of targeting by persons subscribing to the ideology of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar," the application said.

Reacting to the plea, Satyaki Savarkar said it was frivolous and aimed at delaying the trial in the defamation case. "The facts mentioned in Rahul's application have nothing to do with the present case," he told reporters.