The PCI (Press Council of India) has issued a bailable warrant of five thousand rupees against the editors of Vijaya Karnataka newspaper for allegedly publishing a baseless hate report.
On 28th March 2020, Vijaya Karnataka newspaper published a report under the heading that read, “All the dead are from one community – why are they still gathering in crowds in the name of prayer.” The report perpetuated a baseless narrative blaming the Muslim community for the spread of the Coronavirus infection. The people’s Campaign against Hate Speech filed a complaint against the Vijaya Karnataka Newspaper with the Press Council of India, alleging that during a time when there is fear surrounding the spread of the disease, such reports have led to violence against Muslims.

Vijaya Karnataka Newspaper had been summoned on different occasions to attend a hearing because the report published by Vijaya Karnataka violated PCI’s “Norms of Journalistic Conduct 2019”. However, the statements have revealed that since representatives from Vijaya Karnataka did not attend both hearings, a warrant has been issued against the newspaper outlet.

By publishing baseless reports targeting a community, Vijaya Karnataka daily newspaper has become a propagator of hate. We, therefore, demand that an inquiry be held and action be taken against the newspaper and that the newspaper issue an open apology. Also, not attending the hearing of an organization like PCI does not reflect well upon the newspaper. By violating the law they are setting a bad precedent to their readers, the statement issued by the people’s Campaign against Hate Speech elaborated.