Delhi High Court seeks Aaj Tak’s reply to plea alleging propaganda against Sikhs

The Delhi High Court on Monday sought a response from Aaj Tak, the News Broadcasters Association of India, the Press Council of India, and the central government on a petition alleging a “vicious and concocted campaign by the news channel against the Sikh community”, Bar and Bench reported.

The notice was issued by a division bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh.

Petitioners Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Rajya Sabha MP, and Manjit Singh GK, former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, have asked for direction to the authorities to “restrain fake news and set up accountability measures”.

Their petition states that after violence erupted during the tractor rally organised by protesting farmers on Republic Day, media houses such as Aaj Tak “have unleashed an offensive and potentially fatal communal attack on the ‘Sikh’ community by continuous circulation and constant transmission of unverified videos through different platforms including their respective news channels, YouTube and other such digital and online platforms”.

It further contends that the “tirade launched through the circulation of such malicious and vindictive videos” outrages the dignity, modesty and goodwill of the Sikh community.

The case will be heard next on February 26.