Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday appeared before a Guwahati court in connection with a criminal defamation case filed against him by the RSS. The chief judicial magistrate granted Rahul relief on a Personal Recognisance (PR) bond, and set November 5 as the next date of hearing.
RSS volunteer Anjan Kumar Bora had filed a case against Rahul with regard to his visit to a 16th century Vaishnavite monastery in the state in December. Rahul had left locals fuming when he skipped the visit to the Barpeta Satra and went directly to the road show organised by his party.
He later told the media in New Delhi that the RSS had prevented him from entering the satra and incited local women to stop him, triggering verbal exchanges between the Congress and BJP ahead of this year's Assembly elections. After examining various witnesses, the magistrate had ordered Rahul to appear before him on Thursday.
"In the next hearing, Rahul Gandhi will have to be present. We have full trust in the justice delivery system. We have an air-tight case against him," said Bijon Mahajan, Bora's legal council.
Though thousands of Congress workers had gathered in front of the court premises, they could not hold a rally or demonstration as Section 144 of the CrPC was in force.
"I am against the RSS ideology that tries to divide India," Rahul said after the hearing, claiming that the BJP is scared of the momentum his yatra has been gaining in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
"These cases are foisted against me because I am fighting for the poor, farmers and the unemployed. The Modi government is running for the interest of a few people." All India Congress Committee leader C P Joshi and all state party leaders, including former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, had accompanied Rahul to court. Rahul also attended a meeting of the party workers before heading back to the national capital.
RSS volunteer Anjan Kumar Bora had filed a case against Rahul with regard to his visit to a 16th century Vaishnavite monastery in the state in December. Rahul had left locals fuming when he skipped the visit to the Barpeta Satra and went directly to the road show organised by his party.
He later told the media in New Delhi that the RSS had prevented him from entering the satra and incited local women to stop him, triggering verbal exchanges between the Congress and BJP ahead of this year's Assembly elections. After examining various witnesses, the magistrate had ordered Rahul to appear before him on Thursday.
"In the next hearing, Rahul Gandhi will have to be present. We have full trust in the justice delivery system. We have an air-tight case against him," said Bijon Mahajan, Bora's legal council.
Though thousands of Congress workers had gathered in front of the court premises, they could not hold a rally or demonstration as Section 144 of the CrPC was in force.
"I am against the RSS ideology that tries to divide India," Rahul said after the hearing, claiming that the BJP is scared of the momentum his yatra has been gaining in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
"These cases are foisted against me because I am fighting for the poor, farmers and the unemployed. The Modi government is running for the interest of a few people." All India Congress Committee leader C P Joshi and all state party leaders, including former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, had accompanied Rahul to court. Rahul also attended a meeting of the party workers before heading back to the national capital.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday appeared before a Guwahati court in connection with a criminal defamation case filed against him by the RSS. The chief judicial magistrate granted Rahul relief on a Personal Recognisance (PR) bond, and set November 5 as the next date of hearing.
RSS volunteer Anjan Kumar Bora had filed a case against Rahul with regard to his visit to a 16th century Vaishnavite monastery in the state in December. Rahul had left locals fuming when he skipped the visit to the Barpeta Satra and went directly to the road show organised by his party.
He later told the media in New Delhi that the RSS had prevented him from entering the satra and incited local women to stop him, triggering verbal exchanges between the Congress and BJP ahead of this year’s Assembly elections. After examining various witnesses, the magistrate had ordered Rahul to appear before him on Thursday.
"In the next hearing, Rahul Gandhi will have to be present. We have full trust in the justice delivery system. We have an air-tight case against him,” said Bijon Mahajan, Bora’s legal council.
Though thousands of Congress workers had gathered in front of the court premises, they could not hold a rally or demonstration as Section 144 of the CrPC was in force.
"I am against the RSS ideology that tries to divide India,” Rahul said after the hearing, claiming that the BJP is scared of the momentum his yatra has been gaining in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
"These cases are foisted against me because I am fighting for the poor, farmers and the unemployed. The Modi government is running for the interest of a few people.” All India Congress Committee leader C P Joshi and all state party leaders, including former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, had accompanied Rahul to court. Rahul also attended a meeting of the party workers before heading back to the national capital.
RSS volunteer Anjan Kumar Bora had filed a case against Rahul with regard to his visit to a 16th century Vaishnavite monastery in the state in December. Rahul had left locals fuming when he skipped the visit to the Barpeta Satra and went directly to the road show organised by his party.
He later told the media in New Delhi that the RSS had prevented him from entering the satra and incited local women to stop him, triggering verbal exchanges between the Congress and BJP ahead of this year’s Assembly elections. After examining various witnesses, the magistrate had ordered Rahul to appear before him on Thursday.
"In the next hearing, Rahul Gandhi will have to be present. We have full trust in the justice delivery system. We have an air-tight case against him,” said Bijon Mahajan, Bora’s legal council.
Though thousands of Congress workers had gathered in front of the court premises, they could not hold a rally or demonstration as Section 144 of the CrPC was in force.
"I am against the RSS ideology that tries to divide India,” Rahul said after the hearing, claiming that the BJP is scared of the momentum his yatra has been gaining in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
"These cases are foisted against me because I am fighting for the poor, farmers and the unemployed. The Modi government is running for the interest of a few people.” All India Congress Committee leader C P Joshi and all state party leaders, including former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, had accompanied Rahul to court. Rahul also attended a meeting of the party workers before heading back to the national capital.