Could face harm from followers of Savarkar, Godse's ideology: Rahul tells court

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has reportedly told a Pune court in Maharashtra hearing a defamation case against him that he could face harm from the followers of the ideology of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Nathuram Godse and providing preventive protection is the states constitutional obligation reported the PTIRahul Gandhi who is facing a defamation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar grandnephew of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar made the claim in an application before the special court for cases against MPs and MLAs in PuneThe case the trial of which is yet to start pertains to certain comments allegedly made by Rahul Gandhi against V D Savarkar freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologueAccording to the PTI the application filed before Judicial Magistrate First Class Amol Shinde by Gandhis lawyer Adv Milind Pawar said that complainant Satyaki Savarkar had admitted that he is also a direct descendant through maternal lineage of Nathuram Godse and Gopal Godse principal accused in the assassination of Mahatma GandhiRahul Gandhi is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and recently held a press conference in New Delhi placing before the nation evidence of electoral fraud by the Election Commission the application saidHe also staged a protest in the Parliament premises raising slogans such as vote chor sarkarFurthermore during the parliamentary debate on the subject of Hindutva there was a heated exchange between the Prime Minister and Rahul Gandhi a matter well known to the public Against this backdrop there is little doubt that the complainant his greatgrandfathers 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 the application said as per the PTIIn light of the documented history of violent and anticonstitutional tendencies linked to the complainants 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 stated the news agency reported on WednesdayGiven the historical record of political violence linked to extremist factions and the complainants politicalideological heritage coupled with the present climate of heightened hostility the apprehension is neither vague nor unfounded it said adding In such circumstances preventive protection is not only prudent but is a constitutional obligation upon the state reported the PTIAdvocate Pawar said this Pursis or application was submitted as a precautionary measure with the objective of legally safeguarding the fairness integrity and transparency of the present proceedingsIt 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 Rahul Gandhis life the lawyer said as per the PTIThe court has already granted bail to Gandhi in the caseReacting to the plea Satyaki Savarkar said it was frivolous and filed with the intention of delaying the trial The facts mentioned in the application by Gandhi have nothing to do with the present case he told reporters the news agency reportedSatyaki Savarkar has filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi alleging that in a speech made in London in March 2023 the Congress leader claimed that V D Savarkar had written in a book that he and five to six of his friends once beat up a Muslim man and he Savarkar felt happy the PTI reportedSatyaki Savarkar said that no such incident ever took place and that V D Savarkar never wrote any such thing anywherewith PTI inputs