Rahul Gandhi's doctored video: FIR registered against Jaipur TV channel

NEW DELHI: BJP and a section of the media were warned by the Congress on Sunday to refrain from inventing facts to "defame" the party and its leaders, saying that a complaint has been registered against a TV channel in Jaipur for broadcasting a doctored video of Rahul Gandhi.

Pawan Khera, congress leader and media and publicity chief said that strict action will be taken against the BJP and its leaders for spreading fake news and sharing the doctored video of Gandhi in which his comments about SFI leaders, who allegedly ransacked his Wayanad office were "mischievously" used as if it looked like he was condoning or forgiving the killers of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur.

He said the doctored video that was later taken down and the channel apologized after admitting the mistake, but that a lot of damage had already been done.

He warned that the party would take strict legal action against those who are involved in propagating fake news against the leadership as its "decency should not be mistaken as its shackle".

He alleged that Rajyavardhan Rathore, former information and broadcasting minister from Rajasthan shared the video "irresponsibly" and some others in the BJP followed suit.

Khera said that this particular incident has a very serious dimension as it involves communal harmony of the country and added, "You cannot aggravate passions by doctoring videos and provoking people, provoking communities."

"This FIR was registered against the channel, against the MPs and the senior leaders of the BJP. Bigger action will follow."

"Because anybody who thinks that our decency is our shackle, he has sadly mistaken. It is our ornament and we are free to take that ornament off and take legal action. Gone are the days we continued to be decent because we have been watching the BJP, its IT cell," he said.

Asked whether the FIR names Rathore too, he said it is against the channel and some others for now, and more names will be added soon.

With PTI inputs