Rahul to SC: Sorry for ‘chowkidar’ jibe

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 22

Congress president Rahul Gandhi today expressed regret over his controversial “Chowkidar chor hai” jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attributed to a recent Supreme Court verdict on admissibility of certain documents in connection with hearing of a review petition in the Rafale case.

In his reply to a notice on a contempt petition filed by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi, Rahul Gandhi said his statement was misused by the political opponents.

“My statement was made in the heat of political campaigning. It has been used (and misused) by my political opponents to project that I had deliberately and intentionally suggested that this court had said ‘chowkidar chor hai’,” Gandhi said in his affidavit filed a day before a crucial hearing on the contempt case against him.

“I won’t attribute any views, observations or findings to the court in political addresses unless such views, observations or findings are recorded by the court,” he said.

He said there was not the “slightest intention” to “insinuate” anything regarding the SC proceedings in any manner as he held the court in the highest esteem.

Maintaining that he made the statement after filing his nomination papers on April 10 without “having seen or read the order” of the apex court passed that day, Gandhi reiterated his stand and belief and that of his party that the Rafale deal was a “tainted transaction”. Terming it a “gross and brazen abuse of executive power and a leading example of the corruption of the BJP-led government”, he said it deserved to be investigated by a joint parliamentary panel and proceeded against thereafter.

Gandhi said his statement was not even remotely intended to do anything to lower the majesty of this court in any manner. Lekhi said Rahul Gandhi’s affidavit expressing “regret” over his remarks on Rafale verdict was an “admission of his guilt” and “wrongdoing” by him. However, she said it was between the court and the contemnor (Gandhi) and the court had to pass orders.

‘People to decide’

On May 23, it will be decided in the people’s court that ‘lotus brand chowkidar’ (kamalchhap chowkidar) is indeed the thief. Justice will be done. The chowkidar will be punished. —Rahul Gandhi, Congress chief

‘India cried like SL’

Blasts occurred in Sri Lanka. Hundreds were killed… while they were praying to God... Wasn’t it similar to that in India before 2014?  —Narendra Modi, PM