Supreme Court of India asks for Centre's response in plea seeking restriction on press freedom

New Delhi: The Supreme Court India on Friday issued a notice to the Central government seeking a reply on a petition asking directions to define the parameters of freedom of press so as to"restrict assassination of dignity" of individuals, communities, religious saints, religious and political organisations by elctronic media channels. 

A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde sought a reply to the notice within four weeks. The petition sought appropriate order directing the respondent, Union of India, to prevent the misuse of airwaves by the broadcasting electronic channels in the name of press freedom.

The petition sought intervention by the Supreme Court to control the "uncontrolled and unregulated" broadcasting electronic channels, who are involved in such kind of alleged activities. Reporting intended to hurt the sentiments of saints, religious and political organizations in the name of freedom of press should be prohibited, the petition demanded. The plea sought the issuance of appropriate order directing the Central government to restrict the media trial, parallel trial, judgmental views and interfering in the administration of justice.


The petition stated that the apex court should direct the government to set up an independent body called the Broadcasting Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) to monitor the news broadcast.

"The top court should issue appropriate order directing the Central government to constitute an independent authority to be known as the Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) for the purpose of regulating and facilitating the development of broadcasting services in India," the plea said.

Pakistan: Shah Mehmood Qureshi challenged the PM Modi to come and visit PoK's Muzaffarabad

Islamabad: Pakistani Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, on Wednesday challenged the Indian Prime Minister to come and visit Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani Kashmir, to see for himself how unpopular Indian policies are among the Kashmiri population.

Qureshi was addressing a rally to mark 'Youm-e-Istehsal' (Exploitation Day) to express solidarity with Indian-administered Kashmir, which was stripped of its autonomy on August 5 last year and divided into two federally-administered territories by the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I, as Foreign Minister of Pakistan, invite you to come and address the Kashmiri people in Muzaffarabad. You will personally witness the type of welcome you will get here," Qureshi challenged Modi.

Qureshi also dared Modi to allow Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit Srinagar to see what sort of reception he received there. On Aug. 5, 2019 the Indian government revoked Article 370 and other related provisions from its Constitution, scrapping the state with its autonomy. It was also split into two federally administered territories. 

Simultaneously, it locked the region down, detained thousands of people, imposed movement restrictions and enforced a communications blackout. Indian authorities blanketed Kashmir with troops, who laid out barbed wire and set up road blacks to prevent demonstrations a year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government stripped India's only Muslim-majority state of its special rights. 

The government said the change was necessary to develop the strife-torn region and integrate it with the rest of India but it infuriated many Kashmiris and neighboring Pakistan. Kashmir is claimed in full by India and Pakistan, which have gone to war twice over it, and both rule parts of it. Militants have been fighting Indian rule in its part of Kashmir since 1989 in a conflict that has killed at least 50,000 dead, according to official figures.

hiding truth is anti-national, Don’t care if stating truth on China costs my political career- Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday  sharpened his attack on the Modi government over the Chinese intrusions in Ladakh, saying that "hiding the truth" and allowing China to occupy Indian land is "anti-national" and bringing it to people's attention is "patriotic".

"The Chinese have occupied Indian land. Hiding the truth and allowing them to take it is anti-national. Bringing it to people's attention is patriotic," Gandhi said in a tweet attaching his fourth video in a series. In the video titled 'Tough questions on China', the Congress MP from Kerala's Wayanad said, "As an Indian, my number one priority is the nation and its people."

Firing a salvo at the government, Gandhi said, "How do you react to people who say your questions to the Prime Minister on China, weaken India?" The Congress leader said, "Now, it is pretty clear that the Chinese have entered our territory. This disturbs me. It frankly makes my blood boil. How can some other nation just come into our territory?"
He said "now if you as a politician want me to keep quiet and lie to my people, when I'm absolutely convinced I have seen the satellite photos." "I speak to the ex-army people. If you want me to lie that the Chinese have not entered this country I'm not gonna lie. I simply will not do it. I don't care if my whole career goes to hell. I'm not going to lie," the Congress leader said attacking the government over the military face-off with China in eastern Ladakh's Galwan valley.

He said, "I think the people who are lying about Chinese entering our country are the people that are not nationalistic." "I think the people who are lying and who are saying the Chinese are not in India, they are the people who are not patriotic. So frankly, I don't care if it costs me politically. I don't care if I have no political career at all after that," he said. He also said "but, I'm going to say the truth as far as Indian territory is concerned".
During the all-party meeting, the Prime Minister had said that China has not entered into India's land. On July 17, Gandhi released his first video and questioned the government's foreign policy. He slammed the Modi government over the face-off with China in Ladakh. He said China chose this time to intrude in our land as India's foreign policy, economy and relationship with neighbouring countries are disrupted.

In his second video released on July 20, the Congress leader said Modi fabricated a "fake" strongman image to come to power and now his biggest strength is "India's biggest weakness". On July 23, in his third video the Congress leader attacked the Prime Minister over the India-China border face-off saying he is 100 per cent focused on building his own image and "one man's image is not a substitute for a national vision".