Remarks against RSS: Rahul Gandhi to appear in Assam court today

Guwahati: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will appear before a local court in Guwahati on Thursday to face trial in a criminal defamation case for his remarks against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over temple entry episode in Barpeta last year.

An RSS volunteer Anjan Bora had filed the criminal defamation case against Gandhi in the CJM, Kamrup's court alleging that he had tarnished the organisation's image by saying that he was not allowed by RSS members to enter Barpeta Satra, a 16th century Vaishnavite monastry, in Assam on December 12, 2015.

A spokesman of Congress' state unit said that Rahul Gandhi will arrive in Guwahati around 9 am and will appear before the court at around 10.30 am. Later he is also expected to address a meeting of party workers before returning to New Delhi the same evening.

Bora in his case claimed that Gandhi was supposed to go to the Satra on December 12, 2015 but he did not go there and instead took part in a padayatra.

Later in New Delhi, the Congress vice president told media persons that some RSS workers prevented him from entering the Satra. He also alleged that the RSS have incited the local women to prevent him from entering the Satra.

Describing the Congress leader's assertion as a "blatant lie", Bora said in his petition that a lot of people including women and elected leaders of the Satra were waiting for Gandhi but he never visited the holy place.