Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has taken legal action against Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Jairam Ramesh, issuing them legal notices for sharing purportedly defamatory content about him on the party’s official social media account. Gadkari’s lawyer alleges that the shared content misrepresented Gadkari’s statements, aiming to tarnish his reputation and create division within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to Gadkari’s lawyer, Balendu Shekhar, the controversy stems from a 19-second-long video clip extracted from Gadkari’s interview with The Lallantop. The clip, shared on the Congress’ official account, allegedly distorted Gadkari’s words by omitting context, making it appear as though he was criticizing the government’s developmental efforts. The caption accompanying the clip further fueled the controversy, attributing false statements to Gadkari regarding the state of villages and infrastructure under the Modi government.
Expressing shock and dismay at the alleged misrepresentation, Gadkari’s legal team asserts that the Congress leaders knowingly shared misleading content to malign Gadkari’s image and sow discord within the BJP ranks. Gadkari demands the removal of the video from the platform and a written apology from Kharge and Ramesh within three days. Failure to comply, warns Gadkari’s legal notice, may result in further legal action.
Gadkari’s lawyer emphasizes that the intent behind Gadkari’s original statement was to highlight the government’s developmental initiatives positively. However, the selective editing and misinterpretation of his words, coupled with a misleading caption, allegedly aimed to discredit Gadkari and provoke internal strife within the BJP ahead of the general elections.
As of now, there has been no official response from Mallikarjun Kharge, Jairam Ramesh, or the Congress party regarding the legal notices. The Congress leaders accused by Gadkari maintain silence on the matter, leaving room for speculation on their next course of action.
Sources By Agencies
