Rahul Gandhi to appear before court on 29 September in defamation case

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will have to appear before the Kamrup Metropolitan Court on 29 September in connection with a defamation case following a remark he made during his visit to Lower Assam's Barpeta in December last year.

Gandhi had alleged that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers had stopped him from entering the Barpeta satra, a Vaishnavite monastery.

His remarks triggered a controversy across the country when he alleged that women were made to sit at the entrance of the Satra, refusing him entry.

RSS volunteer Anjan Bora had filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi in the court claiming that he had tarnished the organisation's image by saying he was not allowed by its members to enter Barpeta Satra, a 16th century Vaishnavite monastery in Assam, on 12 December 2015.

Later, Satra officials denied the charges and condemned the act.

In the suit, the complainant charged Gandhi with making false statements to defame the RSS.

-ANI