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'Remove AI video of PM Modi's mother', Patna high court tells Congress
The Patna High Court also directed all the intermediaries to stall the circulation of the video.
The Patna High Court on Wednesday directed the Congress party to remove the AI-generated video depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late mother, Heeraben Modi, from all social media platforms.
The video, posted by the Congress’s Bihar unit last week, showed PM Modi’s mother appearing in his dream and criticising him for his political style.
Acting chief justice PB Baijanthri passed the order on a petition filed by Vivekanand Singh, directing the Congress party to take down the AI-generated video from social media, as it “violates Article 21 dealing with Right to Privacy and human dignity”. The written order is awaited.
Advocate Siddhartha Prasad, appearing for the respondent, the Union of India, said that the bench has issued notices to the Bihar Congress Party, its leader Rahul Gandhi, Google India Private Limited, X (Twitter) India, and Meta Platforms Inc. in its interim order.
The petitioner had sought immediate removal of the video from all platforms and direction for appropriate action against the persons responsible and public apology for the defamatory publication “for spreading malicious propaganda to vitiate free and fair election and malign the personal character and conduct of a political leader”.
The petitioner also raised the issue “whether the freedom of speech under Article 19-1-a can be invoked as a shield when the speech in question is malicious, fabricated and intended solely to defame”.
Reacting to the development, Janata Dal United (JD-U) spokesman and MLC Neeraj Kumar said that the high court order was enough to show Congress the mirror out of utter desperation, targeting anyone’s late mother.
“The Patna HC order is welcome, and the Congress should take it as a lesson for those who say the Constitution is in danger. The HC direction is due to the strength of the Constitution that the Congress is unable to digest,” he added.
Echoing similar sentiments, Union minister of state for home (MoS) Nityanand Rai said that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav should now reflect on this “moral corruption”, which the Patna HC has also taken cognisance of and directed the Congress Party to remove it from all social media platforms.
“He speaks on moral corruption despite his entire family being neck deep in corruption. Now, after the HC verdict, he should at least speak. The Congress tried to defend the indefensible, as it has stooped to a new low under Rahul Gandhi. Insult of PM’s mother, who is no more, and the silence of Tejashwi shows the complicity of both in it, and the people of Bihar will show them their place,” he added.
