‘Jungli Murga’ on HP CM’s dinner menu? Police file case of defamation, fake news

PTI Shimla: Police here registered a case of defamation and spreading false news on Wednesday after a video surfaced online, showing Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu encouraging his associates to eat “Jungli Murga” (Grey Junglefowl) during a dinner in a remote area. Latching on to the issue, the BJP has claimed that ‘Jungli Murga’ is an endangered species listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, and hunting or eating it is illegal.

Police said the case has been registered against unknown people based on a complaint lodged by Kulag village head Suman Chauhan and another local named Nitu Kumar. L a s t week, the video was w i d e l y circulated online in which Sukhu is purportedly heard saying, “Inko do Jungli Murga, hume thodi khana hai (Give them Jungli Murga, I don’t want to eat).” He then asks his compani o n s i f they wish to eat the dish. The video was recorded at the remote Tikkar area of Shimla district, where the chief minister was having dinner with Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandi and other officials last Friday, and the particular dish was listed on the menu.

The village head, Suman Chauhan, claimed that Grey Junglefowl is not found in their area, while the chief minister maintained that he was referring to “Desi Murga”. The BJP has demanded Sukhu’s apology over the matter, even as the chief minister claimed that local villagers cooked “Desi Murga” which he offered to others since he didn’t eat non-vegetarian food due to health reasons. Stressing that eating nonvegetarian food is a way of life in the villages, Sukhu slammed the opposition leaders for making an issue out of it.

In her complaint, Chauhan claimed the villagers cooked traditional food of the area for the chief minister, but someone spread a “fake” menu on the Internet to defame the culture and traditions of the area. Claiming that the “fake news” on social and print media hurt the feelings of the villagers, Chauhan said, “Our customs and traditions have been misrepresented. We demand action on the matter.” Police said a case of publication or circulation of false/rumoured news with the intent to promote feelings of hatred and defamation under Sections 353 (2) and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered against unknown people. Reacting to registration of the case, BJP spokesperson Chetan Bragata accused Congress government of targeting opposition leaders and media houses.