In the midst of a brewing controversy surrounding Union Minister Parshottam Rupala’s recent remarks regarding the Kshatriya community, a Congress leader in Gujarat, Adityasinh Gohil, has taken legal action by filing a defamation complaint against him. Gohil, whose ancestry is tied to the royal family of the erstwhile princely state of Lathi, spanning parts of present-day Amreli and Bhavnagar, alleges that Rupala’s comments have tarnished his reputation. Notably, Gohil emphasized that he lodged the complaint in his personal capacity and not as a representative of the Congress party.
Rupala publicly issued an apology on Friday for his remarks made during a meeting with Kshatriya community members in Shemla village of Rajkot’s Gondal taluka. Former BJP Gondal MLA Jayrajsinh Jadeja declared the matter resolved following Rupala’s apology, marking the second instance within a week where Rupala has expressed regret. Earlier, he had released a video statement to address the controversy.
During the meeting, Rupala expressed deep regret for his words, acknowledging the unintended consequences of his remarks on his party. He recounted the context of the incident, clarifying that the comments were made during an unscheduled event, causing distress to the community and his political affiliation.
In his complaint to the magisterial court in Rajkot, Gohil cited a purported video of Rupala’s comments where he allegedly referred to Kshatriyas as “coward” and “those who can kneel down.” Gohil deemed these remarks defamatory and damaging to the pride of the Kshatriya community, prompting him to seek legal recourse under IPC sections 499 and 500.
Sanjay Pandya, Gohil’s advocate, revealed that the court has initiated an inquiry under CrPC Section 200 to further examine the complaint and ascertain if there is a prima facie case against Rupala. The court has scheduled April 12 as the next hearing date.
Rupala’s controversial remarks were made during an address to the Dalit community in Rajkot on March 22. In a purported video of the speech, he recounted historical interactions between rulers and the British, drawing criticism for his portrayal of Kshatriyas. Rupala, BJP’s LS candidate for Rajkot, now faces legal proceedings as the controversy continues to unfold.