Congress President Kharge Summoned By Punjab Court In Rs 100 Crore Defamation Case Over Remarks Against Bajrang Dal

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has been summoned by a court in Punjab in a Rs 100 crore defamation case filed by Hindu Suraksha Parishad (HSP) chief over his alleged remarks against Bajrang Dal during the recently concluded Karnataka Assembly elections.

The case was filed by HSP President Hitesh Bhardwaj.

In his petition, Bhardwaj claimed that the Congress compared Bajrang Dal with anti-national organisations.

“I moved to court on Thursday after I found that on page number 10 of the manifesto, Congress has compared Bajrang Dal with the anti-national organisations and also promised to ban it if they win the election," Bhardwaj was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. 

The court of civil judge (senior division) Sangrur, Ramandeep Kaur has directed Kharge to appear before the court in Sangrur on 10 July, reports Livemint.

The Congress manifesto proposing to ban the Bajrang Dal became a major issue in the Karnataka election campaign's second half, with both BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacking the grand old party over the issue.