Court Summons Kharge In Rs 100 Cr Defamation Case Over K'taka Congress Promise To Ban Bajrang Dal

A Sangrur court, in Punjab, summoned Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in a Rs 100 crores defamation case against Kharge for the party's Karnataka manifesto promising a ban on Bajrang Dal.

A Sangrur court, in Punjab, summoned Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in a Rs 100 crores defamation case filed by Hitesh Bhardwaj, the founder of Hindu Suraksha Parishad, against Kharge over Congress manifesto in Karnataka promising a ban on Bajrang Dal equating it to Popular Front of India (PFI) as being among organisations "spreading hatred amongst communities on grounds of caste or religion." 

The complainant has demanded Rs 100 crore and 10 Lakhs as the defamation suit reads, "the plaintiff entitled to get loss of reputation of his organization which is spread at Sangrur Punjab India and abroad of Rs 1,00,00,00,000 and legal assistance charges of Rs 10,00,000."

The defamation suit states that the party filed "false propaganda through his election manifesto".

"The allegation in the form of comparison of Bajrang Dal Hind with PTI and other Talibani organization without any basis greatly maims and impairs the name and honour of the members of the Bajrang Dal Hind and Hindu Suraksha Parishad who number in crores and also defames the followers of Lord Hanuman Ji..."

Regarding Bajrang Dal, the Congress manifesto, called 'Sarva Janangada Shanthiya Thota' (peaceful garden of all communities), had stated that "the Congress Party is committed to take firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred amongst communities on grounds of caste or religion. We believe that law and Constitution is sacrosanct and can not be violated by individuals and Organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities".

The party had said that if voted to power in the state, will take 'decisive action' as per law, including imposing a ban on them.

In the last week's assembly polls, the Congress won 135 seats and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 66 seats while Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) won only 19 seats.

As for PFI, on September 28, 2022, the Centre declared the PFI as unlawful under Section 3 of the UAPA and imposed a ban on it for five years for allegedly indulging in "unlawful activities" which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country.

With the PFI, the Union government had declared as "unlawful association" its affiliates including the Rehab India Foundation (RIF), the Campus Front of India (CFI), the All India Imams Council (AIIC), the National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation (NCHRO), the National Women's Front, the Junior Front, the Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.