K'taka HC stays probe into case against Amit Malviya for posting derogatory video on Rahul Gandhi
Bengaluru, July 19: The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday stayed investigation into the case registered against Amit Malviya, national head, BJP social media wing, for posting a derogatory video against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Malvia had filed an application seeking quashing of the case registered against him at the city's High Grounds Police Station.
Justice M Nagaprasanna granted an interim stay on the investigation of the case today. He also ordered the issuance of notice to the state government to file its objections and adjourned the case.
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, who appeared for the petitioner as advocate during the trial, argued that no statement has been made in the alleged video that would amount to offences punishable under Sections 505(2) and 153A of the IPC.
''There is no averment in the complaint to show how the actions of the petitioner have resulted in commission of the alleged offences. The impugned FIR is liable to be quashed on this ground alone,'' the petition said.
Malviya on June 17, 2023 posted a video on his Twitter account with the caption in Hindi, ''Rahul Gandhi Videshi Taaqaton Ka Mohra? (Rahul Gandhi a pawn of foreign forces)''.
Ramesh Babu, co-chairman of Communications Department of KPCC lodged a complaint on June 19 and the High Grounds police registered the FIR on June 27.
''In the video shared by Mr Amit Malviya, Shri Rahul Gandhi has been made a target of a malicious and false 3D animated video, endorsed by the BJP's key leaders such as Mr Amit Malvia, Mr JP Nadda and Mr Arun Sood. The video was circulated on 17/06/2023 and Mr Malviya's Twitter handle, with a clear and malicious intent of not only tarnishing Shri Gandhi's and INCs reputation, but to instigate communal discord and misrepresent the party and its leaders' persona,'' the complaint had said.
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Flip-flop on COP: Cong's dig at govt on withdrawing bid to host COP33
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Thursday attacked the Centre over India withdrawing its bid to host the COP33 climate summit in 2028, and said it reflects the Modi government's true commitment to the 2015 Paris Agreement both in letter and spirit.
The opposition party said the decision also calls into question the government's true commitment to take on more ambitious carbon mitigation goals in the short and medium term.
Congress general secretary and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh recalled that on December 1, 2023, the prime minister had announced grandly in Dubai that India would be hosting the annual UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP) in India in late 2028.
"Clearly the intention was to milk the global gathering for whatever it is worth in the months before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections like Mr. Modi did by having the G20 Summit in New Delhi a few months before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," Ramesh said on X.
"Unexpectedly last night, it was announced that India will not be hosting the high-profile 2028 Conference. No reasons have been given for this sudden decision. But it does reflect on the Modi Govt's true commitment to the 2015 Paris Agreement both in letter and spirit," the Congress general in-charge communications said.
It also calls into question the Modi government's true commitment to take on more ambitious carbon mitigation goals in the short and medium term, Ramesh said.
By 2028, the seventh assessment report of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) may get published and this could put greater pressure on India as the Chair of the 2028 Conference to forge a new consensus that would undoubtedly involve a scaling up of ambitions not just for a distant future, he said.
"Incidentally, do we recall what the PM had told a group of children some years ago on his view of climate change? He had remarked that 'people have changed, climate has not.' Bizarre!" Ramesh said.
He slammed the government's "flip-flop" on hosting the conference.
Ramesh had on Wednesday night said that he was "surprised" at the development.
"I am very surprised. It was high on the PM's agenda especially since 2029 will be the year of Lok Sabha polls. So atmospherics could have (been) created," he had said.
India has withdrawn its offer to host the United Nations annual climate Conference Of the Parties (COP33) in 2028, according to sources.
During his address at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, Prime Minister Modi had proposed India as the host country for COP33. Usually, the venue for a COP edition is decided two years in advance.
Sources confirmed that the decision was officially communicated to the authorities concerned earlier this week that India is withdrawing its bid to host COP 33. They, however, did not state any specific reason behind the government's decision.
