The Allahabad High Court is set to rule on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s challenge to a Varanasi court order. The verdict comes Friday at 2 p.m. over Gandhi’s comments about the Sikh community during his U.S. trip last year.
The high court wrapped up arguments from both sides on September 3 and put its decision on hold. In the meantime, it told the Varanasi court to pause any further action until the ruling.
The whole issue started when Nageshwar Mishra filed a complaint in a Varanasi magistrate’s court. He wanted police to register an FIR against Gandhi. Mishra claimed Gandhi made a provocative statement in the United States in September 2024. Gandhi reportedly asked if Sikhs in India feel safe wearing their turbans or visiting gurdwaras freely.
Mishra argued the remarks could stir up trouble and hurt communal harmony in India. At first, the magistrate’s court threw out the plea. The judge said the alleged offense happened outside India, so the central government needed to approve any action first.
But Mishra didn’t back down. He appealed to the Varanasi Sessions Court, which overturned the magistrate’s decision. The sessions court said the lower court was wrong to dismiss the case just because of the missing sanction. It ordered a fresh hearing.
That’s when Gandhi turned to the Allahabad High Court to fight back. His lawyers said the comments got twisted out of context. They stressed that Gandhi never urged the Sikh community to rebel or fight the government. “You can’t just grab one line from a full speech and twist its meaning,” Gandhi’s counsel explained. “Look at the whole thing to get the real intent.”
On the flip side, lawyers for the Uttar Pradesh government pointed out Gandhi’s big role as Leader of the Opposition. They said his words matter a lot, especially abroad, where they might sound like the opposition’s official view. “These remarks were inflammatory and could divide people,” the state argued.
The controversy stems from Gandhi’s U.S. speech, where he highlighted challenges Sikhs face in India—like a tough environment for openly practicing their faith. After listening to everyone, the high court reserved its order on the Rahul Gandhi Sikh remarks case.
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