"If you don't like it, ignore it; India a democracy:" Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea against Congress party for alleged COVID-19 toolkit

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the allegation by the Bharatiya Janata Party that the Indian National Congress created a toolkit to tarnish the image of the country (Shashank Shekhar Jha v. Indian National Congress). .The petitioner, advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha prayed that the alleged toolkit be probed to disclose any offence under section 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy) and various other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and to secure the custody of the said toolkit..The Court, however, made it clear that such tools are part of political propaganda and if the petitioner does not like the same, he can ignore it. "Mr. Jha if you don't like the toolkit ignore the toolkit. this is a part of political propaganda if you don't like it ignore it," said Justice DY Chandrachud. .Jha, however, said that the alleged toolkit is communal. "The term like Indian strain or communalising Hindus. Singapore too has banned terms like Singapore strains," he said. Justice Chandrachud, however, responded by stating that India is a democracy. "India is a democracy you know. Why should we issue directions under article 32. We will not entertain this," the Court made it clear. The petitioner then proceeded to withdraw the plea. .The plea also sought directions from the Court to the Election Commission to de-register Congress party if allegations against it are found to be true. .The petition also submitted that directions should be issued to the Central government to issue necessary guidelines to each and every political party, group, and individual "to stop all kinds of hoardings portraying an anti-national stance.".The Congress party had earlier denied making the contentious toolkit and had accused the BJP of creating a 'fake toolkit'. BJP leaders had tweeted a document alleging that it was a toolkit created by Congress party to tarnish the image of the country and Narendra Modi.The Congress party said that its research wing made a toolkit on the Central Vista Project which the BJP is wrongly using for propaganda.A case was also registered in Chhattisgarh against BJP leaders Raman Singh and Sambit Patra based on a complaint by a Congress leader for propagating false information. The Chhattisgarh High Court had, however, stayed the FIR alleging that the case by the Chhattisgarh Police was politically motivated.