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The Indian Youth Congress on May 8 filed a police complaint against Ashok Shrivastav, a journalist with the state-owned broadcaster Doordarshan, for portraying Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge as a “Gaddar” (traitor). The complaint was lodged at the Tughlaq Road Police Station in New Delhi.
The complaint pertains to a show hosted by Shrivastav on May 8, amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The episode, titled “Bharat Taiyaar… Par Ghar Mein Kitne Gaddar” (India is ready… But how many traitors within the country?), featured a poster prominently displaying images of Kharge and Congress’ Muslim MP from Saharanpur, Imran Masood—implying they were traitors to the country.
In his complaint, Roopesh S Bhadauria, Member of the AICC and National Chairman of the Youth Congress Legal Cell, submitted the complaint. “It can be clearly seen in this poster which was televised on national television that Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji is being portrayed as ‘Gaddar’ (traitor) by Ashok Shrivastav, which is clearly false, malicious, provocative and has the tendency to incite feelings of enmity towards Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji and the Indian National Congress,” Bhadauria wrote.
The Congress Party has condemned the broadcast, calling it prejudicial to national unity, particularly during a time of military conflict with Pakistan. “Our country is going through testing times with the ongoing violent conflict with Pakistan in which several Indian citizens and military officers have lost their lives,” the complaint stated.
“During such a war-like situation, Ashok Shrivastav and DD News, which is state-owned media, are airing such malicious content which not only has the tendency to incite violence against Mallikarjun Kharge and promote enmity towards the Congress Party, but is also prejudicial towards national integrity and peace and harmony in society during such testing times,” Bhadauria added.
Earlier senior Congress leader and MP KC Venugopal also condemned the incident, demanding an unconditional apology from Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for allowing such content to air on a public broadcaster.
Venugopal pointed out that since the Pahalgam terror attack, Kharge has extended “unequivocal support” to the armed forces and the government on behalf of the Congress Party. “The kind of pathetic, insulting and dangerous narrative being run by Doordarshan is unacceptable. Labelling Kharge ji and MP Imran Masood ji as ‘Gaddar’ is extremely divisive and completely out of place as we face a national crisis,” he said.
Venugopal also reminded the public of Congress’ historic role in defending India during past wars with Pakistan, including supporting the Vajpayee-led government during the Kargil conflict.