Rahul Gandhi 'disrespects' Supreme Court with march, says Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra
Synopsis
Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra fired at Rahul Gandhi after the INDIA bloc marched to the Supreme Court on 12 October — the day after CJI Surya Kant formally declined to meet them. For the BJP, the optics are irresistible: an opposition that claims to defend institutions marching to a court after hours, after being turned away, hands its critics a ready-made 'anarchist' narrative.
Key Takeaways
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra called Rahul Gandhi the 'most anarchist leader' in India on 12 October .
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined to meet INDIA bloc leaders on Sunday , citing established rules and procedures.
The INDIA bloc march — including Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav — reached the Supreme Court at 6 pm , after court hours.
The alliance plans to file a petition against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar before the Supreme Court .
Malhotra argued Gandhi had forfeited the 'moral right' to petition the court after the march.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Harsh Malhotra on Monday, 12 October accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting the dignity of the Supreme Court through what he called a 'theatrical march' to the top court, declaring Gandhi had become the 'most anarchist leader' in the country. Malhotra made the remarks in New Delhi after the INDIA bloc alliance led by Gandhi marched to the Supreme Court premises, even after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant had declined to meet the opposition leaders.
Background: The Appointment That Was Refused
The episode began when Rahul Gandhi publicly announced plans to meet Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to lodge a complaint against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to Malhotra, Gandhi had at that stage claimed the INDIA bloc had sought a formal appointment with the CJI — the head of the country's judiciary.
However, on Sunday, the Chief Justice of India declined to grant the meeting, citing established rules and procedures governing such requests. Despite this, the opposition alliance proceeded with the march the following day.
The Monday March and BJP's Reaction
The INDIA bloc's march, which included prominent leaders such as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, reached the Supreme Court at 6 pm — after court hours had ended. Malhotra alleged that the march was carried out on Gandhi's instigation, and described it as theatrics designed to embarrass constitutional institutions.
Malhotra, who also serves as Minister of State in the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, invoked Gandhi's past conduct — specifically his act of tearing up a United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government ordinance — to argue that this was consistent behaviour from a leader who, in the BJP's view, treats constitutional processes dismissively when they do not serve his political interests.
Constitutional Hierarchy Argument
The Delhi BJP chief argued that no constitutional office in India ranks higher than that of the President. By reportedly first meeting the President and then seeking an appointment with the Chief Justice, Gandhi had, according to Malhotra, shown disrespect to both high constitutional offices in sequence — inverting the established protocol rather than following it.
Petition Plans and Moral Standing
The INDIA bloc has also announced its intention to file a petition before the Supreme Court against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Malhotra contended that by conducting what he characterised as a disrespectful march to the top court, Rahul Gandhi had forfeited the moral right to approach the court through a petition. He further warned that Gandhi's conduct suggested that if any future Supreme Court verdict went against him, Gandhi would 'take to the streets against it as well.'
The Congress and the broader INDIA bloc have yet to issue a formal response to Malhotra's specific characterisations, and their stated position remains that the march was a legitimate democratic expression of concern over the Election Commission of India's conduct.
Point of View
But the INDIA bloc's optics on this occasion are genuinely awkward. Marching to the Supreme Court after hours, following a formal refusal by the Chief Justice, is difficult to defend as institutional respect — regardless of the underlying complaint about the Election Commission. For the opposition, the risk is that the spectacle of the march overshadows the substantive allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner, gifting the BJP a procedural argument that is easier to communicate than the original grievance. The broader pattern — invoking constitutional institutions when convenient, and dramatising outside them when access is denied — is one both sides of Indian politics have indulged in. But Gandhi, as the principal opposition face, carries a higher burden of consistency on this front.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rahul Gandhi and the INDIA bloc march to the Supreme Court?
The INDIA bloc marched to the Supreme Court on 12 October to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with plans to file a petition against him. The march followed the CJI's refusal to grant them a meeting to lodge their complaint.
Why did Chief Justice of India Surya Kant decline to meet the INDIA bloc?
Chief Justice Surya Kant declined the meeting on Sunday, citing established rules and procedures that govern such requests. The refusal came after Rahul Gandhi had publicly announced the bloc's intention to meet the CJI.
What did Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra say about Rahul Gandhi?
Malhotra called Gandhi the 'most anarchist leader' in India, accusing him of disrespecting the dignity of the Supreme Court through a 'theatrical march' conducted after the CJI had refused a meeting. He also alleged Gandhi had shown disrespect to two high constitutional offices.
Who joined the INDIA bloc march to the Supreme Court?
Alongside Rahul Gandhi, the march included Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, among other INDIA bloc leaders. The group arrived at the Supreme Court at 6 pm, after court hours.
What petition is the INDIA bloc planning to file in the Supreme Court?
The INDIA bloc has announced its intention to file a petition before the Supreme Court against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The alliance has raised concerns about the Election Commission's conduct, which prompted the initial request for a meeting with the CJI.
