New Delhi/IBNS: INDIA bloc leaders have backed Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who was on Monday rapped by the Supreme Court over his claim that China grabbed 2,000 sq. km of Indian land.

After a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders, a joint statement was issued by the anti-Modi front that said it is the responsibility of the LoP to make "comment on issues of national interest".

The statement reads, "Today during the morning meeting of the INDIA floor leaders, the remarks of a sitting judge of the Supreme Court on the Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi was discussed.

"All the leaders of the India parties agreed that the sitting judge has made an extraordinary observation which is unwarranted on the democratic rights of political parties. It is the responsibility of political parties especially the Leader of Opposition to comment on issues of national interest. When a government fails so spectacularly to defend our borders, it is every citizen’s moral duty to hold it accountable."

'If you are a true Indian, you won't say all of this': SC to Rahul Gandhi

A top court bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih slammed Rahul's remark which he passed during his nationwide mass outreach campaign, Bharat Jodo Yatra.

"How did you get to know that 2,000 sq km of Indian land has been taken over by the Chinese? If you are a true Indian... you won't say all of this," the bench said as quoted by NDTV.

The court rapped the Congress MP even after staying the proceedings in the criminal defamation case against the Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha.

The bench has issued a notice to quash the defamation case.

Representing the Congress' de facto top leader, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said as reported by the broadcaster, "If he can't say these things... how can he be the Leader of Opposition?"

In response, Justice Datta said, "Then why don't you say such things in Parliament. Why say on social media?"

Rahul had made the claim in the backdrop of the 2020 deadly Galwan clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers along Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The Rae Bareli MP had accused the Modi government of surrendering before China.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had clarified neither anyone intruded into the Indian territory nor any post was captured.

"Neither anyone got inside our territory nor is any of our post captured," the Prime Minister had said in a statement.

Reacting to the court's observation, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya wrote on X, "...Does anyone still doubt who Rahul Gandhi is speaking for?"