Court issues summons to Rahul

He had reportedly said, "How long will you go and work as labour in Punjab and Delhi, how long will you beg (for work) in Maharashtra?"

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was today issued summons by a local court on a petition filed by a city-based lawyer objecting to certain reported "defamatory, derogatory" remarks made by him about the natives of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at an election rally nearly two years back.

Rahul as the then Indian Youth Congress chief, while kicking off party's UP election campaign in Phulpur on November 14, 2011 had reportedly said, "How long will you go and work as labour in Punjab and Delhi, how long will you beg (for work) in Maharashtra?."

The petitioner said, "That the above said statement of the defendant (case Shiv Murti Yadav versus Rahul Gandhi) is clearly defamatory, derogatory statement intending to cause irreparable loss to the image, reputation and prestige of the plaintiff and similarly situated persons."

Judicial Magistrate Jaswinder Singh, issued 'dasti' summons for September 19, "to Rahul Gandhi, General Secretary, AICC c/o President, AICC, 10 Janpath, New Delhi."

The "dasti summons" have been "forwarded to the Court of CMM, New Delhi, Patiala House, for service and return before the date fixed" as the summons issued earlier on August 17 could not be served.

"Whereas the plaintiff/ petitioners has instituted the above case against you. You are hereby summoned to appear in this court in person or through your attorney on 19.9.2013, directed to produce on that day documents upon which you intend to rely in support of your defence," the summons said.

It further said, "Take notice that in default of your appearance on the day mentioned before the suit/application/ appeal will be heard, determined in your absence."

The petitioner had filed a case in December 2011, accusing him of hurting sentiments of people of the two states.