In february this year, Amulya Leona, a student activist, was taken into custody by Bengaluru police after she raised ‘Hindustan Zindabad’ and ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans at an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rally organised by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in the city. She had been charged with the offence of sedition and for promoting enmity at the Upparpete police station. On February 20, Public TV telecast a TV show where statements were made allegedly calling for violence against her. Now, a group called Campaign for Ethical Media Reporting in Bangalore has submitted a complaint to the District Level Monitoring Committee for Private Television Channels against Public TV in its endeavour to make news media accountable.
This is a group of concerned activists, parents, lawyers, academicians who are working towards making media more accountable to journalistic standards, ethics and principles. The complaint dated March 12, was aimed at holding HR Ranganathan of Public TV accountable for making statements in violation of the Programme Code in Rule 6 of the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 in a TV show called ‘Big Bulletin with HR Ranganathan’ that aired on 20th February 2020.
In this show, Ranganathan, while speaking about Leona, made some deeply offensive statements against her and allegedly even gave a call for violence against her. The transcript of what he said has also been provided in the complaint which reads as follows:
“She should have been punched in the face, and her teeth knocked out, right there on the dais. Letting her on it was the mistake. It would have been fine if her teeth had been knocked out. She could have then been chopped up and thrown away.”
“Oh, if you bash her head in you won’t find cow – dung there.”
“If she comes out, she should be lynched with cow – dung, wherever she can be seen. If we hit her will they file cases? Let them file the cases, let us see.”
“If three of them are chopped up and thrown away, the rest will fall into line.”
“That is why, sometimes, I think it’s better to dispense mob justice/aranya , though it is wrong.”
“Whether it is being incited or not, the legs of those who get caught should cut off and thrown away.”
“Their faces should be bashed in, what kind of people are these.”
The deeply offensive video can be viewed at viewer’s discretion at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhzUuVHVPSw&feature=youtu.be%2C
The complaint states that Ranganathan’s statements amount to incitement of violence and have created an atmosphere of lawlessness and fear. Additionally they amount to a statement conducing to public mischief, and also criminal intimidation. This is being seen as a violation of the Programme Code which states as follows:
“(d) Contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half – truths ;
(e) is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promote anti – national attitudes;
(i) Criticises, maligns or slanders any individual in person or certain groups, segments of social, public and moral life of the country”
The complaint sought strict action against the news channel in the form of seizure of equipment used for operating the cable television network under Section 11 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act as well as for violation of the Programme Code requiring Public TV to scroll an apology for a 2 months and suspension of broadcast of Public TV for a period of 2 months.
The complaint can be read here.
Related:
FIR Against VHP Leader For Hate Speech in Lal Kuan Communal Violence Case: Delhi
Protest against indiscriminate arrest of hundreds of Muslims in violence affected NE Delhi