The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Junly 2, intensified its attack on Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi by putting up posters across parts of Delhi, mocking him over his recent expression of “regret” before the Madhya Pradesh High Court in a defamation case.
The posters, carrying slogans such as “I Am Sorry” and “I Am Orry”, label Gandhi as ‘Maafiveer’ and come amid an ongoing legal battle linked to remarks allegedly made about Kartikeya Singh, son of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Posters appear across Delhi
Fresh posters targeting Rahul Gandhi surfaced in several areas of Central Delhi on Junly 2, morning. The campaign was spearheaded by BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, who shared images of the posters on social media.
The posters prominently feature Rahul Gandhi alongside the words “Maafiveer Rahul Gandhi”, a term intended to portray him as someone who repeatedly apologises after making allegations.
The campaign appears to be directly linked to Gandhi’s recent submission before the Madhya Pradesh High Court, where he expressed “regret” in connection with a statement that forms the basis of a defamation complaint filed by Kartikeya Singh.
Maafiveer Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/eZA4gnkgSK
— Tajinder Bagga (@TajinderBagga) July 2, 2026
What is the defamation case?
The case stems from remarks allegedly made by Rahul Gandhi during an election rally in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, in 2018.
According to the complaint filed by Kartikeya Singh, Gandhi referred to his name while speaking about the Panama Papers controversy, thereby causing reputational damage.
Following the complaint, a Bhopal court designated to hear cases involving MPs and MLAs issued summons to Gandhi.
The Congress leader subsequently approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking the quashing of both the summons and the defamation proceedings.
Gandhi expresses ‘Regret’
In an application submitted before the High Court through his counsel, Rahul Gandhi stated that the remarks in question were not directed at Kartikeya Singh.
The application also expressed “regret” regarding the statement that has become the subject of the defamation proceedings.
The Congress leader has maintained that Kartikeya Singh was never the intended target of his remarks and has sought relief from the court.
The matter is scheduled to be heard by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
BJP sharpens attack
The BJP quickly seized upon Gandhi’s court submission to launch a political offensive.
National spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress leader of making allegations without evidence and later retreating when faced with legal scrutiny.
In a video statement, Poonawalla alleged that Gandhi frequently makes accusations and subsequently retracts them when challenged in court.
Referring specifically to the present case, the BJP spokesperson claimed Gandhi had effectively acknowledged making an incorrect allegation against Kartikeya Singh by expressing regret before the High Court.
Poonawalla further alleged that similar instances had occurred in the past, accusing the Congress leader of adopting a pattern of making controversial claims followed by legal retreats.
Political messaging ahead of key battles
The ‘Maafiveer’ poster campaign reflects the BJP’s broader strategy of portraying Rahul Gandhi as a leader who makes unverified allegations and later backtracks under legal pressure.
For the Congress, however, the legal submission is being viewed as a clarification that the disputed statement was not aimed at Kartikeya Singh rather than an admission of wrongdoing.
The controversy has added a fresh political dimension to a case that is currently before the judiciary, with both parties attempting to shape public perception around Gandhi’s application before the High Court.
Case awaits court hearing
With the matter now before the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the legal proceedings are expected to determine whether the summons and defamation case against Rahul Gandhi will continue.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s poster campaign has ensured that the courtroom dispute has spilled into the political arena, setting the stage for another round of confrontation between the ruling party and the Congress ahead of upcoming political contests.
