INDIA bloc parties on Tuesday termed “unwarranted” the Supreme Court observations against Rahul Gandhi for his alleged remarks on the Army, and asserted it was the responsibility of political parties to comment on issues of national interest.

The remarks came a day after the Supreme Court censured Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, over his alleged derogatory remarks about the Indian Army during his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Floor leaders of several parties of the INDIA bloc discussed the remarks of the Supreme Court against Gandhi at a meeting in New Delhi. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Gandhi were present at the meeting.

“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,” the Congress said in a statement.

“It is the responsibility of political parties especially the Leader of Opposition to comment on issues of national interest,” the statement said.

“When a government fails so spectacularly to defend our borders, it is every citizen’s moral duty to hold it accountable,” it further said.