During the Karnataka assembly elections, there was fierce political rhetoric between the BJP and the Congress regarding Bajrang Bali. The Congress had announced in its election manifesto that if the Congress gains power in the state, it will ban the Bajrang Dal. During the election campaign in Karnataka, Kharge had made objectionable remarks about Bajrang Dal. Now, in this case, the Sangrur district court of Punjab has issued a summons for defamation to Kharge.
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A Punjab court has issued a notice to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in a Rs 100-crore defamation case filed against him for “defamatory” remarks against the Bajrang Dal and comparing it to the outlawed PFI in his party’s Karnataka poll manifesto. The notice was issued by the court on May 12 on a petition filed by Hindu Suraksha Parishad national president Hitesh Bhardwaj. Senior Division Judge Ramandeep Kaur has summoned Kharge to remain present before the Sangrur court on July 10.
Hindu Suraksha Parishad and Bajrang Dal Hindustan founder Hitesh Bhardwaj has filed a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against Mallikarjun Kharge in the Sangrur court with regard to the Congress election announcement. The defamation suit includes the recovery of Rs 100 crore along with interest at 12 per cent per annum from the filing date till realisation, along with Rs 10 lakh as legal fees.
The petitioner has submitted, ” That the respondent issued an election manifesto before the state of Karnataka for the elections. In the said manifesto, at para number 10, the defendant issued defamatory statements against the Bajrang Dal, a unit of the Hindu Suraksha Parishad, by declaring to ban the organisation and comparing it to outlawed organisations like the Popular Front of India (PFI).”
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