A special court in Pune granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on January 10 in a defamation case concerning his alleged derogatory remarks about Hindutva ideologue V. D. Savarkar.

The MP/MLA court released Gandhi, who appeared via video conferencing, on a surety bond of ₹25,000. Senior Congress leader Mohan Joshi served as surety, and Advocate Milind Pawar, representing Gandhi, noted that the court has granted him a permanent exemption from further appearances. The case is scheduled for a hearing on February 18.

The defamation case was initiated by Savarkar’s grandnephew and relates to a speech Gandhi delivered in London in March 2023, where he referenced the freedom fighter using a book authored by Savarkar. In the speech, Gandhi sought to draw parallels between tribal leader Birsa Munda and Savarkar, stating that Munda remained resolute in his ideals.

“He [Munda] never backed down and was ultimately martyred. He represents your [tribal] identity. In contrast, the symbol of the BJP-RSS is Savarkar, who was imprisoned in Andaman for a few years and wrote mercy petitions,” Gandhi claimed.

Gandhi further alleged that Savarkar authored a book under a pseudonym to portray himself as courageous, adding that he accepted pensions from the British and acted against the Congress. He emphasized that tribals are the “original owners” of India and deserve priority in rights.

According to Gandhi, the RSS and BJP are attacking the fundamental ideals of Birsa Munda. He accused the BJP of undermining the Constitution and denying rights to Dalits, adivasis, and marginalized communities.

While Congress refers to them as ‘adivasis,’ Gandhi argued that the BJP-RSS coalition has rebranded them as ‘vanvasis’ (forest dwellers) to dismiss their historical claim to the land. “This is a serious matter, as it jeopardizes the very legacy that Birsa Munda fought for,” he asserted, highlighting the dangers of deforestation and diminishing rights.

He noted that the Congress believes firmly in providing adivasis with their rightful entitlements, including land, healthcare, and education, all protected by the Constitution framed by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Gandhi criticized the BJP for its reluctance to acknowledge the need for a Constitution during its early days.

Gandhi further accused the ruling party of dismantling public sector companies and privatizing essential services such as education and healthcare, stating, “If government schools close, disadvantaged individuals will remain uneducated, ultimately benefitting the BJP. They are effectively closing all pathways to employment, education, and healthcare.”

He underscored the role of the Congress in passing key legislation like the Forest Rights Act and accused the BJP of attempting to undermine tribal rights. “Only the Congress can safeguard the Constitution and advocate for the rights of tribals. The party must unite and strengthen its fight against political adversaries,” Gandhi had said.

On Friday, the Congress party hit out at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government over reports that the Centre had halted the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) in order to provide scholarships to deserving students.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stated that a “public relations (PR) exercise was prioritized over a vision for progress.

She emphasized that the NTSE Scholarship, established in 1963, has significantly impacted the futures of many children by facilitating access to quality education and contributing to national development. Vadra referred to a news report indicating that the NTSE scholarship had been suspended for the past three years.

“Yet, the Pariksha Pe Charcha continues for the Prime Minister’s personal publicity. In the last three years, ₹40 crore could have been allocated for scholarships, while ₹62 crore has been spent on publicity,” Vadra remarked.

She expressed concern that the discontinuation of scholarships for thousands of students has seemingly closed the door to a promising future, while the Prime Minister’s PR efforts persist unabated.

On January 9, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also raised similar points, noting that the scholarship had been discontinued three years ago under the pretext of controlling spending on scholarships. “However, the non-biological PM has continued with a PR campaign labeled Pariksha Pe Charcha, wasting around ₹62 crore. This is what we call ‘Entire Political Science,’” he added.

Reports indicate that the government has allocated over ₹62 crore for Pariksha Pe Charcha, an annual event where Prime Minister Modi offers advice to schoolchildren on how to approach exams. During these three years, the scholarship program designed for schoolchildren up to doctoral levels—linked to the National Talent Search Examination—was suspended after the education ministry instructed the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to put the examination on hold.

Had the scholarship program continued, total expenditures over the past three years would have been less than ₹40 crore, based on previous spending patterns. Some government officials suggested that suspending the Talent Search Exam was part of an effort to reduce scholarship-related expenditures.

Many academics and parents have raised questions about the government’s priorities, asserting that Pariksha Pe Charcha amounts to little more than a repeated “public relations” and “self-glorification” initiative by the Prime Minister, whereas the scholarship could significantly benefit students.

Pariksha Pe Charcha is conducted in January or February at a venue in Delhi, where students from various states and schools gather. Modi responds to a selection of pre-screened audience questions as well as some pre-recorded ones, with expenses covered by the education ministry.

AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal announced on Friday that his party plans to provide financial assistance to Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) for hiring private security guards if they are re-elected in Delhi.  

During a press conference, Kejriwal mentioned that specific guidelines detailing the financial assistance amounts and the number of guards that can be hired will be established later.

In his statements, Kejriwal criticized the BJP, claiming the party has disregarded the welfare of Delhi’s residents, which has contributed to their absence from power for 27 years. He emphasized that AAP prioritizes the needs of the people in Delhi, as evidenced by their commitment to support RWAs in enhancing neighborhood security through private security services.

Earlier on December 30, Kejriwal announced a new scheme that offers a monthly honorarium of Rs 18,000 to Hindu and Sikh priests. Kejriwal said that the registration of the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana will begin on Tuesday. This announcement comes amid a huge row over a scheme that promises a monthly stipend to unemployed women.

Addressing a press conference, the former Delhi Chief Minister said that he was making an important announcement regarding a scheme. He mentioned that the name of the scheme is Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana. He continued that under this scheme, there is a provision to give an honorarium to the priests of temples and the granthis of the Gurudwara, adding that they will be given an honorarium of about Rs 18,000 per month. 

He pointed out that this is happening for the first time in the country. He added that the priest is a class that has carried forward the rituals from generation to generation, who never paid attention to their family and the governments never paid attention to them. Arvind Kejriwal said he would kickstart the scheme after visiting the Hanuman Temple in Delhi’s Connaught Place tomorrow.

Earlier, the AAP national convenor launched the Mahila Samman scheme which offered a stipend of Rs 2100 per month to unemployed women. The AAP leaders started a registration drive for the scheme. Nonetheless, the next day, the government’s women and child development (WCD) department advertised that the Mahila Samman scheme was non-existent and urged residents not to share personal data.