Neha Bora moves Delhi High Court against notice to sign bond and ‘maintain peace’

Rahul Gandhi reportedly warned Congress student leaders that if they joined the party for personal recognition, they were in the wrong organization. The comments came amid growing unease within the Congress's youth and student wings over the prominent role given to Left student leader Neha Bora during a major opposition protest outside the Supreme Court on October 12. Gandhi made these remarks during a meeting with leaders of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), and the Seva Dal at the Congress headquarters in Delhi. He was accompanied by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, IYC chief Uday Bhanu Chib, and NSUI president Vinod Jakhar. According to a participant at the meeting, Gandhi emphasized that the Congress had never sought or received credit for its contributions to the nation over the years. He urged the youth wing members not to expect recognition within the party either. He also spoke about the recent protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, noting that the suffering and police actions endured by protesters would ultimately strengthen their resolve. Gandhi reportedly told the young leaders that "a broken leg should not just be a medical emergency, but should also be a badge of honour that you carry in your heart." He encouraged them to take advantage of the opportunities presented by their roles in the IYC and NSUI to develop leadership skills, discipline, sacrifice, resilience, and the courage to stand up for what is right. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressed the youth leaders, reminding them that their actions reflected the values of the organization they represented. She emphasized that they were the strength and future of the party, and that the senior leadership drew its strength from them. She urged them to keep in mind the responsibility they carried, as they were not just representing themselves but the entire party. Some NSUI leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to grant Neha Bora a seat on the same bus as the Gandhis and other top leaders during the protest. Concerns were raised about aligning with Left ideologies that have lost electoral ground in recent years, especially as the Congress seeks to attract conservative Hindu voters. Neha Bora, meanwhile, has moved the Delhi High Court challenging a notice requiring her to sign a bond to maintain peace during an ongoing inquiry into her activities. Bora was detained on Friday during a protest near Barakhamba Road demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She claims she was taken to an undisclosed location and held overnight at the RK Puram Police Station before being released early Sunday morning. The notice, issued under sections of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, requires Bora to appear before a special executive magistrate and provide a bond of Rs 10,000 with a surety. Bora disputes the allegations, arguing that the notice lacks evidence of any potential breach of peace or specific incidents. Her legal team plans to inform the magistrate that she will not comply with the bond requirement and will determine their next steps based on the magistrate's response. The Delhi High Court is currently closed for the Dussehra holiday and is set to resume operations on October 26. Bora’s legal representatives may seek an urgent hearing during the closure.