Skip to main content

Supreme Court To Hear Cases Challenging Ban On BBC Series On PM

The Supreme Court will next Monday hear requests challenging the use of emergency powers to block the controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and allegations linked to the 2002 Gujarat riots.A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala took note of the submissions of serial litigant Advocate ML Sharma and senior advocate CU Singh seeking urgent listing of their separate Public Interest Litigations on the issue.In addition to Mr Sharma, another petition has been filed by veteran journalist N Ram, activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan, and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra.Advocate CU Singh said that the Centre has invoked emergency powers under IT Rules to remove the links about the documentary from social media, adding that tweets by N Ram and Advocate Prashant Bhushan were taken down, and that the Centre has not yet formally publicised the blocking order. College students in Ajmer were rusticated for screening the documentary, he added. Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju slammed the petitioners for "wasting" courts' time. "This is how they waste the precious time of Hon'ble Supreme Court where thousands of common citizens are waiting and seeking dates for Justice," he tweeted.This is how they waste the precious time of Hon'ble Supreme Court where thousands of common citizens are waiting and seeking dates for Justice. https://t.co/5kouG8Px2K — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) January 30, 2023 ML Sharma's petition terms the Centre's ban on the two-part documentary as "malafide, arbitrary, and unconstitutional". The PIL also urged the top court to examine the BBC documentary - both parts I and II - and sought action against those who were responsible and involved directly and indirectly with the 2002 Gujarat riots.On January 21, the Centre, using emergency provisions under the Information Technology Rules, 2021, issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial BBC documentary "India: The Modi Question".Mr Sharma said that in his PIL he has raised a constitutional question and the top court has to decide whether citizens have the right under Article 19 (1) (2) to see news, facts and reports on the 2002 Gujarat riots."Whether without having an Emergency declared under Article 352 of the Constitution of India by the President, Emergency provisions can be invoked by the Central Government?" the PIL said. It claimed the BBC documentary has "recorded facts" which are also "evidence" and can be used to further the cause of justice for the victims.Mahua Moitra on Sunday shared the link to the documentary on Twitter, saying "Govt on war footing to ensure noone in India can watch a mere BBC show. Shame that the emperor and courtiers of the world's largest democracy are so insecure (sic)." The Information and Broadcasting (I and b) Ministry told Twitter and YouTube to block the first episode of the BBC documentary, people familiar with the matter said, a day after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak distanced himself from the documentary series, saying he "doesn't agree with the characterisation" of his Indian counterpart in the UK's parliament by Pakistan-origin MP Imran Hussain.The ministry told Twitter to remove over 50 tweets on the documentary by Britain's national broadcaster, sources said.India has called the documentary a "propaganda piece" that lacks objectivity and reflects a colonial mindset.Students' organisations and opposition parties across India have organised public screenings of the documentary in protest over the ban orders. Students clashed with college authorities and the police in several campuses after not being allowed to hold screenings, some were briefly detained as well.A Supreme Court-appointed investigation had found no evidence of wrongdoing by PM Modi, who was Chief Minister of Gujarat when the riots broke out in February 2002.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Does drinking lemon mixed with hot water cause weight loss?

The common drink that has been going on for years to reduce weight is drinking 'hot water mixed with lemon-honey'. Does drinking lemonade and honey really help you lose weight? What are its benefits? Does this method really work? . Lemon juice contains various antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that boost brain and heart health.Lemon juice is an excellent source of Vitamin C. Studies have shown that Vitamin C is a vital nutrient in preventing many modern diseases. Vitamin C is essential in bone formation, connective tissue repair, and gum health. To make the drink as healthy as possible, use filtered water and organic lemons. Infuse more flavor or add a health boost to lemon water by adding: a few springs of mint. People adopt many methods to reduce weight. Which includes eating salad, exercising by going to the gym, drinking protein shake, doing yoga etc. But at the same time, one of the most common ways to lose weight is considered to be 'getting up in the morning ...

Yogic Breathing: Types, Benefits, & Techniques

Yogic breathing, also called pranayama, is a practice of controlling the breath. Yogic breathing is one of the eight limbs or core practices of yoga. It is often timed with movement and yoga poses but can also be used as a motionless meditation or mindfulness tool. Research shows that yogic breathing can improve both mental and physical health. What Is Yogic Breathing? Pranayama is a means to control the breath, and can be used to focus the mind during yoga, or meditation. There are three parts to yogic breathing: inhalation, exhalation, and retention. Practicing pranayama is thought to elevate your life energy, resulting in improved mental and physical health. Pranayama is a Sanskrit word, where “prana” is “life force” and “yama” means to “gain control”. Yogic breathing techniques are used for: Mindfulness Progressive muscle relaxation Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) Hatha yoga Body scan meditations Breathwork classes 9 Yogic Breathing Techniques There are nine different...

What Are Lupus Symptoms

If you Google “lupus symptoms,” it can be easy to fall down a rabbit hole. After all, this condition is notoriously difficult to diagnose and may include many symptoms that overlap with other autoimmune diseases. Lupus signs and symptoms can range from fatigue and fever to weight loss and achy joints. However, there are a few key clues that may point your doctor toward a lupus diagnosis. Being aware of these lupus indicators is important as you work with your provider to determine what’s causing your symptoms and advocate for a correct diagnosis. Here’s what you need to know about lupus symptoms that may overlap with other conditions, plus the symptoms that can distinguish it from other diseases. Lupus Symptoms That Are Similar to Other Autoimmune Diseases First, let’s start with the symptoms that make lupus so difficult to diagnose — those that are present in several other diseases as well, including other autoimmune diseases. “Constitutional symptoms [those that impact the entire...