Skip to main content
Sabrang
Sabrang
Communalism Media

Suresh Chavhanke back on the derailed “UPSC Jihad” fake news train? 

Sudarshan News’ Suresh Chavhanke targeted Jamtara the District Collector Faiz AK Ahmed Mumtaz accusing him, not saluting the national Flag on Republic Day

Sabrangindia 28 Jan 2022

Sudarshan TV

Sudarshan News, appears to have resumed its amplification of fake news, especially if it can be used by its followers in the right-wing ecosystem to target Muslims. This time, Suresh Chavhanke and his channel targetted Jamtara District Collector Faiz AK Ahmed Mumtaz accusing him of not saluting the national Flag on Republic Day. 

Chavhanke called it “#UPSC_जिहाद” a term he has invested to ‘accuse’ Muslims of joining the civil services after clearing competitive exams. Chavhanke, who claims to be a journalist, alleged that DC Mumtaz had “insulted” Republic Day.

 

 

The DC himself simply put out the official rule on saluting the National Flag which states, “During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the Flag or when the Flag is passing in a parade or in a review, all persons present should face the Flag and stand at attention. Those present in uniform should render the appropriate salute. When the Flag is in a moving column, persons present will stand at attention or salute as the Flag passes them. A dignitary may take the salute without a head dress.” The DC was seen following this rule in the video clip the right wing channel had shared in its tweet.

 

 

On Wednesday, Republic Day celebrations were organised in the entire district. The national flag was hoisted in ceremonies at all government and non-government institutions, reported the Jagran. The main function was organised at Jamtara Gandhi Maidan where DC Faiz Ak Ahmed Mumtaz hoisted the flag and saluted the Tricolor, he had also inspected the parade with SP Deepak Kumar Sinha and took the salute, stated the news reports. DC Mumtaz had then addressed the gathering and highlighted the History of January 26, 1950. He also spoke highly of works and achievements done by the district administration as well as the state government. 

According to the news report, apart from this, DC Faiz Ak Ahmed Mumtaz, SP Deepak Kumar Sinha, Dy DC Anilson Lakra, SDO Sanjay Pandey, and other officers also took part at flag hoisting ceremony maintaining the Covid protocol.

This incident was similar to the one in 2015 when Vice-president Hamid Ansari's office had to issue a statement after he was viciously attacked on social media for not saluting the Tricolour while the national anthem was being played during the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. Social media had accused Ansari of “breaching protocol by not saluting the flag”. However, the vice-president's office had clarified, "As per the protocol, when the national anthem is played, the principal dignitary and persons in uniform take the salute. Those in civil dress stand in attention. During the Republic Day Parade, the President of India, as Supreme Commander, takes the salute. As per protocol, the vice-president is required to stand in attention. When the vice president is the principal dignitary, he salutes during the national anthem, wearing a headgear, as done at NCC camp this year."

However, historical facts as aways do not matter to Chavhanke and company whose diatribe on ‘UPSC Jihad’ was pulled up by the Supreme Court in September 2020. The Court called show content 'insidious'. Chavhanke had on his show called “Bindaas Bol” titled a series “Naukarshahi me Muslamano ki Ghuspaith ke shadyantra ka bada khulasa” (The conspiracy behind Muslim infiltration in UPSC – The Big Reveal).

Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) was the first organisation to act and file a complaint with the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) when the promotional video for the show Bindass Bol had first emerged. CJP complained against the deeply communal content of the promotional video of the show on ‘UPSC Jihad’, where the channel’s Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke alleged a conspiracy by Muslims to take over civil services in India. But NBSA forwarded our complaint to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) stating that since Sudarshan News was not a part of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) the NBSA could not take action against it. The MIB had cautioned Sudarshan TV against the contents of its 'UPSC Jihad' show and ordered that in case of any further violation stricter penal action would be taken.

However, Chavhanke has continued to make communaly coloured programmes and posting communal tweets, such as the one he did showing a video where over two dozen boys and girls, many dressed in their school uniform of maroon blazer or sweater, maroon trousers and white shirt, some in casual wear, pledging to “fight, die and kill” to create a "Hindu Rashtra". The kids extended their right arm forward and in Hindi said, “We give our word, we pledge to fight, die and kill, if necessary, and be ready for any sacrifice till the last moment of our lives to make this country a Hindu Rashtra and take it forward at any cost. We shall not step back even for a moment. May our Gurudev, our Kul Devata (family god), our Gram Devata (village god), our ancestors and Bharat Mata give us strength and victory.” 

Meanwhile in Sikandrabad, Lakhimpur Kheri, when Republic Day was being celebrated in Jamauhra village of police station Nimgaon area, some people allegedly took down the Tricolour and hoisted a flag related to Buddhism at the Dr. Ambedkar Community Health Center. Police arrested the two accused, and registered a case against four for insulting the national Flag. According to news reports the Inspector-in-Charge Rajkaran Sharma also re-installed the Tricolour. Those arrested in the case, have been identified as Virendra and Subhash and the other two are Rampal and Manoj all of whom have been charged under various sections of the law, reported Amar Ujala.

 

Related:

Hate watch: TN Police debunk Sudarshan TV’s communal ‘Fake News’

UPSC Jihad show offensive, promotes communal attitude: I&B Ministry

SC cuts short Sudarshan News’s diatribe on ‘UPSC Jihad’

Court calls show content 'insidious', ponders committee to monitor TV news standards

Suresh Chavhanke back on the derailed “UPSC Jihad” fake news train? 

Sudarshan News’ Suresh Chavhanke targeted Jamtara the District Collector Faiz AK Ahmed Mumtaz accusing him, not saluting the national Flag on Republic Day

Sudarshan TV

Sudarshan News, appears to have resumed its amplification of fake news, especially if it can be used by its followers in the right-wing ecosystem to target Muslims. This time, Suresh Chavhanke and his channel targetted Jamtara District Collector Faiz AK Ahmed Mumtaz accusing him of not saluting the national Flag on Republic Day. 

Chavhanke called it “#UPSC_जिहाद” a term he has invested to ‘accuse’ Muslims of joining the civil services after clearing competitive exams. Chavhanke, who claims to be a journalist, alleged that DC Mumtaz had “insulted” Republic Day.

 

 

The DC himself simply put out the official rule on saluting the National Flag which states, “During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the Flag or when the Flag is passing in a parade or in a review, all persons present should face the Flag and stand at attention. Those present in uniform should render the appropriate salute. When the Flag is in a moving column, persons present will stand at attention or salute as the Flag passes them. A dignitary may take the salute without a head dress.” The DC was seen following this rule in the video clip the right wing channel had shared in its tweet.

 

 

On Wednesday, Republic Day celebrations were organised in the entire district. The national flag was hoisted in ceremonies at all government and non-government institutions, reported the Jagran. The main function was organised at Jamtara Gandhi Maidan where DC Faiz Ak Ahmed Mumtaz hoisted the flag and saluted the Tricolor, he had also inspected the parade with SP Deepak Kumar Sinha and took the salute, stated the news reports. DC Mumtaz had then addressed the gathering and highlighted the History of January 26, 1950. He also spoke highly of works and achievements done by the district administration as well as the state government. 

According to the news report, apart from this, DC Faiz Ak Ahmed Mumtaz, SP Deepak Kumar Sinha, Dy DC Anilson Lakra, SDO Sanjay Pandey, and other officers also took part at flag hoisting ceremony maintaining the Covid protocol.

This incident was similar to the one in 2015 when Vice-president Hamid Ansari's office had to issue a statement after he was viciously attacked on social media for not saluting the Tricolour while the national anthem was being played during the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. Social media had accused Ansari of “breaching protocol by not saluting the flag”. However, the vice-president's office had clarified, "As per the protocol, when the national anthem is played, the principal dignitary and persons in uniform take the salute. Those in civil dress stand in attention. During the Republic Day Parade, the President of India, as Supreme Commander, takes the salute. As per protocol, the vice-president is required to stand in attention. When the vice president is the principal dignitary, he salutes during the national anthem, wearing a headgear, as done at NCC camp this year."

However, historical facts as aways do not matter to Chavhanke and company whose diatribe on ‘UPSC Jihad’ was pulled up by the Supreme Court in September 2020. The Court called show content 'insidious'. Chavhanke had on his show called “Bindaas Bol” titled a series “Naukarshahi me Muslamano ki Ghuspaith ke shadyantra ka bada khulasa” (The conspiracy behind Muslim infiltration in UPSC – The Big Reveal).

Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) was the first organisation to act and file a complaint with the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) when the promotional video for the show Bindass Bol had first emerged. CJP complained against the deeply communal content of the promotional video of the show on ‘UPSC Jihad’, where the channel’s Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke alleged a conspiracy by Muslims to take over civil services in India. But NBSA forwarded our complaint to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) stating that since Sudarshan News was not a part of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) the NBSA could not take action against it. The MIB had cautioned Sudarshan TV against the contents of its 'UPSC Jihad' show and ordered that in case of any further violation stricter penal action would be taken.

However, Chavhanke has continued to make communaly coloured programmes and posting communal tweets, such as the one he did showing a video where over two dozen boys and girls, many dressed in their school uniform of maroon blazer or sweater, maroon trousers and white shirt, some in casual wear, pledging to “fight, die and kill” to create a "Hindu Rashtra". The kids extended their right arm forward and in Hindi said, “We give our word, we pledge to fight, die and kill, if necessary, and be ready for any sacrifice till the last moment of our lives to make this country a Hindu Rashtra and take it forward at any cost. We shall not step back even for a moment. May our Gurudev, our Kul Devata (family god), our Gram Devata (village god), our ancestors and Bharat Mata give us strength and victory.” 

Meanwhile in Sikandrabad, Lakhimpur Kheri, when Republic Day was being celebrated in Jamauhra village of police station Nimgaon area, some people allegedly took down the Tricolour and hoisted a flag related to Buddhism at the Dr. Ambedkar Community Health Center. Police arrested the two accused, and registered a case against four for insulting the national Flag. According to news reports the Inspector-in-Charge Rajkaran Sharma also re-installed the Tricolour. Those arrested in the case, have been identified as Virendra and Subhash and the other two are Rampal and Manoj all of whom have been charged under various sections of the law, reported Amar Ujala.

 

Related:

Hate watch: TN Police debunk Sudarshan TV’s communal ‘Fake News’

UPSC Jihad show offensive, promotes communal attitude: I&B Ministry

SC cuts short Sudarshan News’s diatribe on ‘UPSC Jihad’

Court calls show content 'insidious', ponders committee to monitor TV news standards

Related Articles

Hate Speech

Hate a political tool, now a state project: India 2023

There is a chance to make Meta Facebook accountable for its hate generating content on May 31, by voting YES for Proposal 7 titled “Assessing Allegations of Biased Operations in Meta's Largest Market” which is to be presented at Meta's AGM on May 31, 2023. It highlights allegations against Facebook for disseminating hate speech, its failure to address risks and political bias, voices concerns around inadequate content moderation and lack of transparency in platform practices. The writer calls on readers to participate in this campaign on social media to make our republic hate-free

Hate Speech

Hate a political tool, now a state project: India 2023

There is a chance to make Meta Facebook accountable for its hate generating content on May 31, by voting YES for Proposal 7 titled “Assessing Allegations of Biased Operations in Meta's Largest Market” which is to be presented at Meta's AGM on May 31, 2023. It highlights allegations against Facebook for disseminating hate speech, its failure to address risks and political bias, voices concerns around inadequate content moderation and lack of transparency in platform practices. The writer calls on readers to participate in this campaign on social media to make our republic hate-free


Sunday

03

Jan

Pan-India

Saturday

05

Dec

05 pm onwards

Rise in Rage!

North Gate, JNU campus

Thursday

26

Nov

10 am onwards

Delhi Chalo

Pan India

Theme

Stop Hate

Hate and Harmony in 2021

A recap of all that transpired across India in terms of hate speech and even outright hate crimes, as well as the persecution of those who dared to speak up against hate. This disturbing harvest of hate should now push us to do more to forge harmony.
Taliban 2021

Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back

Communalism Combat had taken a deep dive into the lives of people of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Here we reproduce some of our archives documenting the plight of hapless Afghanis, especially women, who suffered the most under the hardline regime.
2020

Milestones 2020

In the year devastated by the Covid 19 Pandemic, India witnessed apathy against some of its most marginalised people and vilification of dissenters by powerful state and non state actors. As 2020 draws to a close, and hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers continue their protest in the bitter North Indian cold. Read how Indians resisted all attempts to snatch away fundamental and constitutional freedoms.
Migrant Diaries

Migrant Diaries

The 2020 COVID pandemic brought to fore the dismal lives that our migrant workers lead. Read these heartbreaking stories of how they lived before the pandemic, how the lockdown changed their lives and what they’re doing now.

Campaigns

Sunday

03

Jan

Pan-India

Saturday

05

Dec

05 pm onwards

Rise in Rage!

North Gate, JNU campus

Thursday

26

Nov

10 am onwards

Delhi Chalo

Pan India

Videos

Communalism

Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity

Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .

Communalism

Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity

Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .

IN FACT

Analysis

Stop Hate

Hate and Harmony in 2021

A recap of all that transpired across India in terms of hate speech and even outright hate crimes, as well as the persecution of those who dared to speak up against hate. This disturbing harvest of hate should now push us to do more to forge harmony.
Taliban 2021

Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back

Communalism Combat had taken a deep dive into the lives of people of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Here we reproduce some of our archives documenting the plight of hapless Afghanis, especially women, who suffered the most under the hardline regime.
2020

Milestones 2020

In the year devastated by the Covid 19 Pandemic, India witnessed apathy against some of its most marginalised people and vilification of dissenters by powerful state and non state actors. As 2020 draws to a close, and hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers continue their protest in the bitter North Indian cold. Read how Indians resisted all attempts to snatch away fundamental and constitutional freedoms.
Migrant Diaries

Migrant Diaries

The 2020 COVID pandemic brought to fore the dismal lives that our migrant workers lead. Read these heartbreaking stories of how they lived before the pandemic, how the lockdown changed their lives and what they’re doing now.

Archives