Ghulam Nabi Azad, chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party, has sent a legal notice to Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh for referring to him as a "slave," "Mir Jafer," and a "vote-cutter." The notice, submitted through Azad's legal counsel Naresh Kumar Gupta, wants Rs 2 crore in damages for causing Azad's "unblemished reputation" to suffer, news agency PTI reported.
"That you Mr Jairam Ramesh (Notice Receiver)… always remain in search of occasion to tarnish and harm the growing dignity, respect, honour conferred upon him (Azad) at national level... by way of repeated posts in your Twitter account word 'Ghulam' in order to inflict injury to lower him in the estimation of others, soon after Mr Azad was honoured by Padam Bhushan Award," the notice was quoted by PTI in its report.
Ramesh purposely and consciously used the moniker "Ghulam" to signify "slave," which it translates to, in order to discredit the leader in public, according to Gupta's notification.
Judge stated that Ramesh committed an offence under Section 500 of the IPC via his utterances and must pay monetary reparation, PTI reported.
Mir Jafar, the commander of the Bengal army under Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, betrayed him during the Battle of Plassey, opening the door for British dominance in India. His name has now become synonymous with "traitor."
The notice stated that the "imputation and defamatory aspersions" statements made against Azad in press statements were based purely on malice, and have caused Azad "mental agonies, torture, harassment" and tarnished his image, "which can't be repaired."
Gupta instructed Ramesh to apologise unconditionally to Azad via print-electronic media and social media, or by any other means of contact, within two weeks of receiving the legal notification.
(With Inputs From PTI)