A court in Uttar Pradesh has summoned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his alleged remarks related to the Economic Survey during the Lok Sabha elections campaign.
Gandhi has been asked to appear before the court on January 7.
District and Sessions Judge Sudhir Kumar issued the summons on a petition filed by All India Hindu Mahasangh president Pankaj Pathak.
The petitioner alleged that Gandhi, during the general elections campaign, had said that "despite the percentage of weaker sections being high, the percentage of property they own is quite low".
Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, further said if the situation continues, those with a higher population can demand more property.
He also proposed conducting a caste census to accurately assess the population and status of backward castes, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), minorities and other communities.
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Advocate Virendra Pal Gupta, representing Pathak, alleged that the Congress leader tried to provoke the weaker sections and that his statements were aimed at creating class hatred for political gain.
Gandhi deliberately attempted to sow hostility and animosity among economically weaker sections to further the Congress' interests, Gupta said.
The petitioner had approached the MLA-MP Court/CJM Court in August, seeking a direction to file a case against the Raebareli MP.
The court rejected the petition on August 27, following which, Pathak filed a revision petition in the sessions court.