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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Delhi Police registers case in connection with doctored videos of Home Minister Amit Shah
New Delhi, Apr 28: The Delhi Police registered a case on Sunday after a complaint by the Ministry of Home Affairs in connection with the doctored videos of Union Home Minister Amit Shah being circulated on social media platforms, officials said.
The Special Cell has registered an FIR under various sections of the IPC and relevant provision of the IT Act, they said. Sources in the Special Cell said that now arrests are likely to follow across the country.
According to the complaint filed by Sinku Sharan Singh, DC, Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), some doctored videos are being circulated on social media with "the intent of creating disharmony among communities which is likely to affect public tranquility and public order."
According to the complainant, links from which the videos were shared were also attached for further action.
A copy of the FIR was also sent to the IFSO unit of the Delhi Cyber Police.
