New Delhi/IBNS:  A court in Lucknow has summoned Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in connection with his alleged derogatory remarks against the Indian Army during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in December 2022.

Gandhi will have to appear before the Lucknow MP MLA court in the last week of March.

Former director of Border Road Organization (BRO) Uday Shankar Srivastava had filed the complaint against Gandhi based on which the defamation case was registered.

During his Bharat Jodo Yatra in December 2022, the Congress leader had allegedly said: "Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh."

The dig, which was made at the Centre over Chinese action at the Line of Actual Control, drew sharp criticism from many quarters and led to a massive political row.

Many BJP leaders had called Gandhi as anti-national and accused his family of receiving Chinese hospitality and funds in the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

In March 2023, Gandhi was barred from attending the Parliament for a while after he was found guilty in a defamation case for a remark targetting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his last name.

The Gujarat court which was hearing the case, sentenced him to a two-year jail term.