New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has escalated the issue of allegedly misleading and defamatory content shared by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on social media platform X. Legal notices have been served to both leaders following the dissemination of offensive posts from the official Congress handle on the microblogging site.What is the controversy all aboutThe controversy originates from a 19-second video excerpt of Gadkaris interview with The Lallantop web portal. Kharge and Ramesh shared this clip without presenting the complete context of Gadkaris statements, leading to accusations of intentional distortion to sow confusion and damage Gadkaris reputation.Gadkaris allegations The legal notice contends that the Congress leaders actions were aimed at fostering discord within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the run-up to the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. By selectively sharing a snippet of Gadkaris interview with a misleading Hindi caption, Kharge and Ramesh allegedly sought to undermine the governments achievements.The notice highlights Gadkaris statement addressing the challenges faced by villages, laborers, and farmers, emphasizing the need for improved infrastructure and amenities. However, the context provided in the notice suggests that the Congress leaders interpretation of Gadkaris words was misleading and aimed at discrediting the Modi government.Seeking legal action The legal notice demands the immediate removal of the defamatory posts and a written apology to Gadkari within three days. Failure to comply within 24 hours could result in further legal actions against the Congress leaders. The notice underscores Gadkaris intent to pursue all available legal avenues to address the issue and safeguard his reputation.In response to the allegations, Gadkaris lawyer, Balendu Shekhar, expressed the ministers dismay over the dissemination of misleading content and emphasized the importance of upholding integrity and accuracy in public discourse.
