The Delhi High Court has issued notice in a defamation case related to the screening of the documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots India: The Modi Question by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The notice was issued in a petition filed by a Gujarat-based NGO which said the documentary portrayed the RSS, BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a defamatory and misleading manner.

The documentary, which was aired by the BBC early this year, examined the role of various individuals and organizations during the communal violence that shook Gujarat in 2002. It alleged that several politicians, including the petitioner, played a divisive role and incited violence during the riots. The documentary also claimed that the state government at the time turned a blind eye to the atrocities committed against religious minorities.

The petitioner contended that the documentary had damaged his reputation and was defamatory in nature. He argued that the content presented by the BBC was biased and aimed at tarnishing his image without providing a fair opportunity for him to present his side of the story. The petitioner sought damages and requested the court to direct the BBC to issue a public apology and withdraw the documentary.

Taking cognizance of the matter, the Delhi High Court has issued notice to the representatives from the BBC to appear before it and respond to the allegations of defamation. The court’s decision reflects its commitment to upholding the principles of fairness and ensuring that all parties involved have an opportunity to present their perspectives.

This case highlights the delicate balance between freedom of expression and protection against defamation. While the media plays a crucial role in bringing forth important issues and holding those in power accountable, it is also essential to ensure that individuals are not wrongly defamed or subjected to unfair portrayal.

The notice issued by the Delhi High Court to the BBC indicates that the court is taking the matter seriously and will examine the allegations of defamation made by the petitioner. It also sends a message that responsible journalism should be based on thorough research, unbiased reporting, and a fair representation of all viewpoints.

As the 16^th Karnataka assembly commences today, ahead of it Congress workers sprinkled cow urine and performed Pooja at the state assembly in Bengaluru in order to purify it.

Reports claimed, the Congress workers stated the reason for their action is to purify the Vidhan Soudha as the BJP government has been removed from the power and the Siddaramaiah led Congress is now the leader of the assembly.

Congress workers performed a Pooja near the B.R. ambedkar statue.

The 16^th assembly of the Karnataka assembly has begun today with the Siddaramaiah as the leader of the house and the BJP in the opposition.

Earlier in the day,  Haliyal MLA RV Deshpande took oath as the pro-term speaker of the house, the oath was administered by Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot.

Deshpande took oath to oversee the house proceeding and administer the oath to the newly elected legislators.

Newly elected Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar took oath as MLAs in the assembly, followed by all the cabinet ministers who were sworn-in at Siddaramaiah’s oath taking ceremony on May 20.

The MLAs have also begun the process of oath taking following the cabinet ministers.

The procedure of the election of a new speaker of the house will reportedly be held on Wednesday.

In the assembly today, DK Shivakumar also posed for a picture with former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and other BJP leaders like Ramesh Jarkiholi.

He also met with the youngest MLA in the Vidhan Soudha Darshan Dhruvanarayana, 28-year-old.

On May 13, the results of Karnataka assemmbly elections were declared in which Congress defeated the BJP by winning 135 seats.

The Congress returned back to power making Siddaramaiah the CM for a second term and state Congress chief DK Shivakumar as his deputy, a decision which was taken after a parlay of drama unfolded in the past week.

On Sunday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded that the new Parliament building which is to be inaugurated on May 28, should be done by President Droupadi Mumru instead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress leader’s remarks comes just a week before the inauguration of the new Parliament building which is scheduled to be done by PM Modi.

On Thursday last week, the Lok Sabha Secretariat informed that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met with PM Modi to invite him to inaugurate the new building of the Parliament of India.

After the announcement by the Lok Sabha a number of opposition leaders from various parties objected the decision of the inauguration by PM Modi.

Many leaders argued that Prime Minister is the head of the government and that the Head of the Legislature, the President should ideally be inaugurating the structure.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi objecting the decision said the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman should be chosen for the task. Owaisi questioned why should PM Modi be inaugurating as he is the executive and not legislature.

Owaisi further takes a dig and tweeted the Parliament has been made with people’s money and why is the Prime Minister behaving like it is being made with his friends private funds.
Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray raised  questions of the timing of the inauguration, tweeting that the inauguration day chosen is the birth anniversary of Veer Savarkar and wished 26 November 2023 as the ideal date for the ceremony as Indian Constitution shall complete its 74 years stepping into its 75^th .

The new Parliament building’s foundation stone was laid  by PM Modi on December 10, 2020 as a part of the Central Vista re-development project.

The structure is constructed by Tata Project Ltd, it has a grand constitution hall that has the capacity of accommodating 1,280 members together in an event of joint sitting of both the Houses.