Independent journalist Meer Faisal has issued a cease and desist notice to right-wing platform OpIndia, demanding the removal of allegedly defamatory articles from its website, Maktoob Media reported. 

The notice was mailed to OpIndia’s director Shaili Anilkumar Raval and accused the portal of repeatedly trying to portray Meer as a radical Islamist and to link him with illegal outfits. It referred to a recent piece, published on June 20, accusing the journalist of spreading hate against Hindus with misleading reportage.

As per his notice, Meer’s original piece was reportedly about an incident in Himachal Pradesh’s Nahan where a Muslim shop owner was attacked by a mob for allegedly sharing a photo of an Eid-al-Adha animal sacrifice. It claimed that OpIndia falsely reported the incident as involving a cow, while police investigations confirmed the animal in question was a buffalo, permissible for slaughter.

“I’ve faced threats before on social media, in comments, and direct messages from Hindutva and right-wing followers. All because of the impact of their articles,” Meer told Maktoob. 

In the notice, Meer’s legal representative reportedly said that he is “a law-abiding and respectable citizen” who “actively writes about hate crime and mob lynching cases across India which is not appreciated by right wing organisations”.

The notice reportedly demanded that OpIndia immediately remove the piece, issue an unconditional apology, and Rs 1 crore as compensation to the man who was targeted by a mob in Himachal Pradesh. The notice warned of legal action if OpIndia fails to comply with the demands within 24 hours from the receipt of the notice.

OpIndia is yet to issue a statement.

“The unfortunate and brazen part is that you have allowed/did not restrict people from viewing and sharing the articles and helping in reiterating the false, fabricated, baseless, libellous and malicious content…Your articles have and continue to affect the rights and reputation of my client. On account of your articles, my client is being perceived as a fake journalist or anti-national having connection with illegal groups in the eyes of the general public and therefore, the articles needs to be urgently taken off and at least a clarification in the shape of apology is warranted in the circumstances to salvage the reputation of my client,” stated the notice.

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