Pop-historian Ramachandra Guha was today served with a legal notice over his statements in media outfits, where he linked the Gauri Lankesh murder to the RSS and the BJP. This legal notice was served by Karunakar Khasale, the Secretary of Karnataka BJP Yuva Morcha.
According to reports, his statements in Hindustan Times and Scroll played a big role in him getting that legal notice. In an interview given to Scroll (the leftist propaganda blog), Guha reportedly had stated that:
It is very likely that her murderers came from the same Sangh Parivar from which the murderers of Dabholkar, Pansare and Kalburgi came.
The ruling dispensation in Delhi has created a climate of hate and intolerance. Their bigotry is reinforced and enhanced by jingoistic TV channels who spread a climate of hate and discord and suspicion and demonise their opponents and call them anti-nationals
It should be noted that police has not been able to identify and track killers, whom Guha conveniently links to “Sangh Parivar”. Perhaps Guha is also a part-time detective or full-time propagandist, apart from being a pop-historian.
The notice also mentioned a Hindustan Times article he had written titled, “Gauri Lankesh killing: Undermining democracy, one writer at a time”. This is an excerpt from that article which contained a similar claim:
Even if the BJP or the RSS is not directly involved in this and similar murders, there is little question that the ruling dispensation has enabled a climate of hate and suspicion that makes such targeted killings of writers and scholars possible.
Apart from now being considered defamatory, the article was also considered incomplete by some:
STUNNED. Prof Guha writes 965 words on the late Gauri Lankesh’s life & journalism, and OMITS the fact that she was convicted for fake news. pic.twitter.com/e1QEbBvwH6
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) September 11, 2017
The Notice claimed that Guha had deliberately made such statements to bring disrepute to the BJP with an ulterior motive. It also claimed that the statements were “accusative and defamatory in nature”.
The notice asked Guha to unconditionally apologises for his statements within 3 days, otherwise civil or criminal proceedings would be initiated against him.
But rather than apologising for his statements, Guha started to play the victim card:
In India today, independent writers and journalists are harassed, persecuted, and even killed. But we shall not be silenced.
— Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) September 11, 2017
This ‘stance’ by Guha didn’t receive a warm reception:
We will continue to peddle distortions & lies with impunity and there shouldn’t be any consequences https://t.co/BNe48YjZ7P
— The Masakadzas (@Nesenag) September 11, 2017
OK, please someone write an article claiming that @Ram_Guha‘s writings has encouraged killings by naxals, as a counter to his claim. https://t.co/H0QfmNSSOz
— Raju Das | ৰাজু দাস (@rajudasonline) September 11, 2017
Mr Guha says BJP should have accused him of murder https://t.co/DDRBUnKgHx
— FoolishOfficer (@IndiaSpeaksPR) September 11, 2017
Well done. Serious insinuations & allegations without proof must be called out. That is slander NOT freedom of expression #RamachandraGuha https://t.co/QDiE0WCJIN
— Smita Barooah (@smitabarooah) September 11, 2017
Good job Shekhu @ShekharGupta pic.twitter.com/h7hX5xeZji
— Eminent Intellectual (@padhalikha) September 11, 2017
So “independent” writers have the licence to make accusations and pass summary judgements without providing evidence or proof? Huh!!
— GhoseSpot (@SandipGhose) September 11, 2017
