Press Council of India finds Vijay Karnataka guilty of targeting Muslims over COVID-19 spread
New Delhi: The Press Council of India (PCI) censured the ‘Vijay Karnataka’ newspaper owned by Times Group for its coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic and targeting a particular community for its role in the spread of the virus.
The Council took note of an editorial titled 'All those who died from Corona are from the same community - why do they still come together in the name of prayers?’ dated 28, March 2020 and published in the newspaper. The complainant argued that this article violated the Norms of Journalistic Conduct, 2019. The complainant had also demanded an apology and a clarification from the newspaper that Muslims were not responsible for the spread of coronavirus.
The complainant is part of a Bengaluru-based collective called 'Campaign against Hate Speech'. Vijay Karnataka is a Kannada language newspaper circulated primarily in Karnataka state.
Hate Speech Beda has previously filed complaints against Times Now, News18 Kannada, Suvarna News, and Star of Mysore. In all four instances, they successfully argued their case and ensured action against the media houses. Vijay Karnataka failed to attend the summons of the Press Council of India (PCI) on two different occasions, following which the PCI issued a bailable warrant against the editor.
In their defence, the newspaper argued that they did not mention the name of any particular community and that the newspaper was merely attempting to bring awareness to the community.
A PCI inquiry committee rejected this argument and noted, "There is a reference to persons who visited Mecca and thereafter allegedly died of Corona. There is a reference to people offering namaz behind closed doors. It is stated that Hindus and Christians have respected the curfew, but members of the mentioned community have been offering namaz (sic) behind closed doors. Reference to Mecca and namaz indicates that the author had Muslims in mind and he was targeting them."
The committee concluded, "Vijay Karnataka has tried to spread misinformation during the time of the Pandemic and has targeted the Muslim community, and its conduct is violative of the Norms of Journalistic Conduct of the Press Council of India."
On December 16, 2022, the PCI censured the Star of Mysore newspaper for its editorial on Muslims.
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2001 Parliament attack anniversary: Vice Prez, PM Modi, MPs pay tributes to fallen heroes
New Delhi (PTI): Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Saturday led Parliamentarians in paying floral tributes to those who died fending off terrorists who attacked the Parliament House in 2001.
On the 24th anniversary of the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Radhakrishnan, who is also the Rajya Sabha Chair, were among the first to offer tributes.
A brief function is held outside the now old Parliament building (Samvidhan Sadan) every December 13 to mark the day.
CISF personnel presented a salute or "samman guard" at the venue, after which a moment of silence was observed to mark the anniversary. Till 2023, the CRPF used to offer 'salami shastra' (present arms).
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a senior party leader, were also present at the event. Union ministers Kiren Rijiju, Jitendra Singh and Arjun Ram Meghwal also lined up to offer flower petals at the photographs of the personnel who went down foiling the attack.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is in Latur to attend the funeral of former speaker of the Lower House of Parliament and ex-Union minister Shivraj Patil.
The attack was carried out by five armed terrorists, but personnel from the now former Parliament Security Service, CRPF and Delhi Police foiled the attack, with no terrorist being able to enter the building.
Six Delhi Police personnel, two Parliament Security Service personnel, a gardener and a TV video journalist were killed in the attack. All five terrorists were gunned down in the forecourt of the then Parliament building.
