The Wire: New York-based journalists' group objects to criminal defamation, criticizes Gujarat court move

PM Narendra Modi with Jay and Amit Shah

By Our Representative
In a major embarrassment for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), one of the world's most prestigious associations of mediapersons, has come down heavily on the decision of "India's judiciary to proceed with a criminal defamation complaint against The Wire and issue an injunction preventing the news website from reporting about Jay Shah, the son of the ruling BJP party's president Amit Shah, while the defamation case is being heard."
Referring to the October 12 Ahmedabad court issuing an injunction barring The Wire from writing about Jay Shah's businesses "so that the right to live with dignity of the plaintiff (Jay) may be protected," CPJ wonders how was it that "the news website learned of the injunction only after being sent a copy of the order", quoting a statement published by The Wire on October 16.
"The injunction was issued as part of a criminal defamation case that Jay Shah filed against the news website on October 11. The legal action is related to an October 8 report in The Wire about the turnover of Jay Shah's company, Temple Enterprises, since Narendra Modi became prime minister and his father became party leader", CPJ says.
Also objecting to the "Gujarat court" issuing "summons for those named in the criminal defamation complaint to appear on November 13", CPJ says, "If convicted, the journalists could be jailed for up to two years, or fined." It adds, "One of the The Wire's founding editors, Siddharth Varadarajan, who is named in the complaint, told CPJ via email that The Wire would challenge the injunction."
"A democracy like India should not use criminal defamation proceedings and censorship to resolve publishing disputes," CPJ Asia programme coordinator Steven Butler in New York has been quoted as saying. "Rather than shutting down reporting by The Wire, Indian authorities should take steps to change the country's outdated defamation laws."
The defamation complaint was filed under sections 500 [criminal defamation], 109 [abetment], 39 [voluntarily causing grievous hurt] and 120B [criminal conspiracy] and names the Foundation for Independent Journalism, the non-profit that publishes the website; The Wire's founding editors Varadarajan, Sidharth Bhatia, and MK Venu; Rohini Singh, a reporter; Pamela Philipose, a public editor; and managing editor Monobina Gupta, according to a report in the Business Standard, CPJ notes.
It adds, "The injunction bars The Wire from publishing further stories on Shah's business for the duration of the criminal defamation trial, but it did not require the news website to remove stories already posted, according to Varadarajan."
At the same time, CPJ quotes Nirupam Nanavati, a lawyer representing Jay Shah, defending the use of the injunction as telling CPJ, "Once you write or speak [about a person], you might issue a denial but the injury caused to the person is irreversible and irreparable and can't be compensated in terms of money."
It comments, "The Wire has faced ex-parte injunctions -- an injunction in which only one party is heard -- previously. In March, CPJ documented how a Bangalore city civil court issued an ex-parte injunction ordering The Wire to take down two articles critical of Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a member of India's upper house of parliament."
"Separately", CJP adds, "In August, CPJ documented how the Karkardooma District Court in Delhi issued an injunction that restrained Juggernaut Books from publishing 'Godman to Tycoon: The Untold Story of Baba Ramdev', after the guru filed a complaint."

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Rescind Gates Foundation award to Modi, demand three Nobel Peace laureates

Counterview Desk
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By Our Representative
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In a statement, Sagar Rabari of the Khedut Ekta Manch (KEM), has said that though the dam’s reservoir is being filled up, the canal network remains complete. Quoting latest government figures, he says, meanwhile, the command area of the dam has been reduced from 18,45,000 hectares (ha) to 17,92,000 ha.
“According to the website of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd, which was last updated on Friday, while the main canal, of 458 km long, has been completed, 144 km of ranch canals out of the proposed length of 2731 km remain incomplete.
Then, as against the targeted 4,569 km distributaries, 4,347 km have been constructed, suggesting work for 222 km is still pending. And of the 15,670 km of minor canal…

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By Our Representative
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Hareshbhai was diagnosed with the disease by the GCS Medical College, Naroda Road, Ahmedabad in 2014. He was found to be suffering from progressive massive fibrosis. He is left behind by his wife Rekha sister and two sons Deepak (18) and Umesh (12),
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Bullet train impact report Japan agency property: Govt of India tells Gujarat NGO

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NHSRCL letter to PSS, signed by activists Rohit Prajapati, Krishnakant and Swati Desai, comes following the latter’s request to it on June 10 for the report. PSS was one of the NGOs that represented JICA on the project, saying, if implemented, it would adversely impact farmers, even as pointing towards the fact that the project itself is unviable and Indian Railways needs to invest, instead, more on upgrading the present railway infrastructure.
Following the NHSRCL reply, PSS has shot a second letter to JICA, insisting that the latter should share a copy of the report, even as providing details of the …

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Counterview Desk
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Counterview Desk
In a letter to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, two members of the American Congress, Pramila Jayapal and James McGovern, raising "significant concerns" about what they call "humanitarian and human rights crisis in Jammu & Kashmir”, quoting "credible reports" from journalists and advocates on the ground" have said that "the Indian government has detained thousands of people with no recourse, imposed de facto curfews on residents' and cut off internet and telephone access in the region.”

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By Our Representative
The International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), in a solidarity statement has suggested that the current Karam festival of Central India -- which seeks to promote sisterhood, friendship, cultural unity, and closer link to nature -- should be the occasion to campaign against alleged efforts to violently drive away forest dwelling communities from their forest homes.
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By Our Representative
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The demonstration in Badwani was preceded by a vehicles rally, which took rounds of the city streets. They were joined by people from several villages of Dhar district. They gather…

Narmada valley: SC notice to Gujarat, MP, M'rashtra on submergence sans rehabilitation

By Our Representative
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Historic Chikhalda, temples, mosques submerged, activists 'rescue' Gandhi idol

By Medha Patkar
The first farmer of Asia was born in Chikhalda, if one is to believe archaeological researchers. A historic village, 50 percent of its population is of Hindus and 50 percent of Muslims, yet it has always remained peaceful. Chikhalda has struggled to save water, land and people along Narmada river.

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