Siddaramaiah wants Modi to apologize publicly or face Rs.100cr defamation-suit
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has threatened to file a Rs. 100cr defamation suit against BJP, PM Narendra Modi, party chief Amit Shah and its Karnataka candidate BS Yeddyurappa for 'false accusations' against him. The legal notice he sent claims BJP has published several defamatory ads, and Modi too made false statements against Siddaramaiah during his rallies. But BJP says Congress has "clearly lost the plot."
What does the notice claim?
Siddaramaiah's notice referred to Modi calling the Karnataka Congress government "a 10% commission government" and a "seedha rupaiya sarkar" (straight money-minded government). Moreover, "the BJP has published several political advertisements in Kannada and English newspapers, television channels and on the social media, which are defamatory against Siddaramaiah," it said. "These allegations are completely false, fabricated and do not have an iota of truth."
'Apologize publicly or face action'
The notice accused BJP of violations under Sections 499, 500, 501 and 502 of the Indian Penal Code, demanding an unconditional public apology. If the party doesn't oblige, civil and criminal route will be undertaken, which could lead to damages worth Rs. 100cr, it warned.
Notice comes days ahead of state elections
This comes less than a week before the May 12 state elections, which has seen an intense battle between the ruling Congress and the determined BJP. Terming the notice a desperate measure by the Congress, Karnataka BJP Spokesperson S Prakash said, "Congress has clearly lost the plot; when they've been unable to pose a challenge to the PM, they have resorted to these means."
