Congress files complaint against DD Journalist for labelling Kharge as ‘traitor’
New Delhi: The Congress party has filed an official complaint against Doordarshan (DD) journalist Ashok Shrivastav, condemning his programme that portrayed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as a "traitor" during a time of heightened military conflict with Pakistan. The party called the broadcast harmful to national unity and accused the state-owned broadcaster of spreading divisive and inflammatory contentx reported News Laundry.
In the complaint, Congress highlighted the seriousness of the situation, noting that the country is dealing with violent conflict with Pakistan, during which several Indian citizens and military officers have lost their lives. “During such a war-like situation, Ashok Shrivastav and DD News are airing malicious content which not only incites violence against Mallikarjun Kharge and promotes enmity towards the Congress Party, but also harms national integrity, peace and harmony,” said Congress leader Bhadauria.
The controversy began on May 6, when Ashok Shrivastav shared a promotional poster for his debate show on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The graphic featured Kharge, Lok Sabha MP Imran Masood, and Islamic scholar Arshad Madani under a caption that read: “India is ready but how many traitors are in the House?” The programme was aired on Doordarshan.
Senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal demanded an unconditional apology from Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, stating that the use of such language was unacceptable during a national crisis. “Labelling Kharge ji and MP Imran Masood ji as ‘gaddar’ is extremely divisive. The Congress president has extended unequivocal support to the armed forces and the government since the Pahalgam terror attack,” he said.
Venugopal also reminded the public of the Congress party’s historical record of supporting the government during previous wars with Pakistan, including its support to the Vajpayee-led administration during the Kargil conflict.
The inclusion of Islamic scholar Arshad Madani in the same graphic has also drawn sharp criticism. Critics questioned how a respected religious figure could be grouped with political leaders under a label that suggests disloyalty, especially by a public service broadcaster.
Other Congress leaders, including MP Manickam Tagore, also condemned the broadcast, saying it was disgraceful and called on Minister Vaishnaw to issue an apology. The Congress party accused Doordarshan of misusing public platforms for political purposes and spreading communal undertones, which they say is dangerous at a time of national security threats.
As of now, there has been no official response from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting or from Doordarshan regarding the complaint.
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2 detained after comment over wedding procession to Dalit house sparks clash in UP's Shahjahanpur
Shahjahanpur (UP) (PTI): Two persons have been detained after a clash broke out allegedly over remarks targeting a Dalit family's wedding procession in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district, police said on Saturday.
The incident occurred in Lai Kheda village under Tilhar police station area, where a wedding procession from Bareilly had arrived at a Dalit household on April 20.
According to SP Saurabh Dixit, when the procession was near the house of Rajpal Yadav, he allegedly made a remark saying "Now, Dalits will also take out wedding processions riding a buggy", leading to an argument. Yadav's side allegedly turned aggressive, escalating the conflict further.
Police said a scuffle ensued between the two sides. Upon receiving information, police personnel reached the spot and ensured that the procession was conducted peacefully after the incident.
An FIR was registered on Friday against Rajpal Yadav, Sumit, Amit, Surendra, Avdhesh Yadav and five unidentified persons based on a complaint. Rajpal Yadav and his son Sumit have been taken into custody and are being questioned, Dixit said.
The case has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, police said.
Dixit said preliminary findings suggest that Yadav, too, was hosting a function and processions from both sides had arrived around the same time. A dispute may have initially arisen due to a narrow passage and attempts to move the processions quickly.
Police have registered the case under relevant sections of the BNS and initiated further probe, officials said.
