A Delhi court has issued summons to the BBC, Wikimedia Foundation and Internet Archive in connection with a defamation suit by BJP official Binay Kumar Singh. Singh is requesting a permanent injunction barring the three organisations from publishing a contentious and outlawed BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as any material associated with the RSS and VHP.
“The defendant is directed to file its written statement within 30 days from the date of service of the summons. Endorsement be made on the summons accordingly,” said the court of additional district judge Ruchika Singla. The next hearing is scheduled for May 11. Petitioner Singh also sought from the defendants an “unconditional apology” and damages of Rs 10,00,000. According to the suit, the two-volume BBC documentary, titled India: The Modi Question, “has generated an atmosphere of terror and fear among members of various groups, and possesses the potential to trigger violence and jeopardise public order across the nation…”
The lawsuit states that allegations made in the documentary against RSS and VHP are motivated by malicious intent to defame the organisations and its members. It says “…the accusations made therein foster animosity between multiple faith communities, in particular Hindus and Muslims.”
Singh, who claims to be an active volunteer of RSS and VHP, said although the documentary is banned in India, it is available on Wikimedia and Internet Archive. The suit states that it is imperative to recognise RSS and VHP as “peaceful and non-political organisations”.