"Interview distorted": Nitin Gadkari's legal notice to Congress leaders

Union Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has sent a legal notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party General Secretary Jairam Ramesh for "distorting" part of one of his interviews on social media (X).

Gadkari said Congress posted a 19-second audio and visual clipping of his interview "hiding the relevant meaning and purpose". Gadkari claimed that this "fraud" was perpetrated by Congress leaders with the sole intention of "creating fanfare and confusion, sensation and notoriety".

Union Minister Gadkari has asked Congress to remove the post "within 24 hours of sending the legal notice" and has also demanded a written apology within three days. Describing the video clip as factually incorrect, he said it was a "deliberate attempt" by Congress leaders to "insult" him, as well as with the intention of provoking Bharatiya Janata Party members to create an ideological rift. This step has also been taken. The clip has caused "reputational damage, defamation and significant loss of credibility".

"By uploading the above video, the interview has also been distorted and presented on your microblogging site 'X' Wall, out of context and without relevant meaning," the notice said. In the video shared by the Congress on Twitter, Gadkari can be heard saying, "The villages, the poor, the laborers and the farmers are sad... There are no good roads in the villages, no water to drink, no good hospitals. "There are no good schools."

The Cabinet Minister for Road Transport and Highways said that Congress cut out those parts where he told how many efforts are being made and good results are being achieved even during the tenure of the present central government. "(He) deliberately posted the Hindi caption and video by hiding the relevant meaning of the conversation, which was done deliberately to tarnish (the minister's) reputation," Gadkari said.

Congress has not yet responded to Nitin Gadkari's legal notice.