Kiren Rijiju Compares Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal Amid Legal Controversies
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has sparked discussions by comparing Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal regarding their past legal troubles and apologies. His remarks follow a defamation case involving Karthikeya Singh Chouhan, where Gandhi expressed regret in court. Rijiju's comments raise questions about the frequency of apologies from these opposition leaders in light of their controversial statements. This article delves into the ongoing legal battles and the political implications surrounding these figures.
| Jun 26, 2026, 17:55 IST
Central Minister's Remarks on Opposition Leaders
On Friday, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju drew a comparison between Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party. This remark came after the Congress MP expressed regret in the Madhya Pradesh High Court regarding his comments about Karthikeya Singh Chouhan, son of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. In a post on X, Rijiju questioned how often these opposition leaders have expressed remorse or apologized after facing legal action for their statements.
Rijiju posted, "Who has apologized more frequently after making false allegations - Rahul Gandhi or Arvind Kejriwal?" Karthikeya Singh Chouhan had filed a defamation case in the MP-MLA court in Bhopal, claiming that Rahul Gandhi tarnished his image by mentioning his name in connection with the Panama Papers scandal during an election rally in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, in 2018. This speech was delivered prior to the 2018 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections when Shivraj Singh Chouhan was the Chief Minister.
Subsequently, the MP-MLA court summoned Rahul Gandhi to appear in person, prompting the Congress leader to challenge this order in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. After hearing the case, the High Court reserved its order. Karthikeya Chouhan's lawyer, Sankalp Kochhar, informed that the MP-MLA court found the defamation case filed by Karthikeya Chouhan against Rahul Gandhi to be cognizable and valid.
Rijiju's comments come at a time when both Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal have previously expressed regret or apologized in legal matters. In 2019, Gandhi unconditionally apologized to the Supreme Court for his remarks regarding the Rafale fighter jet deal. Meanwhile, Kejriwal has issued apologies to BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Nitin Gadkari in separate defamation cases related to corruption allegations.
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