Taking this citizens’ monitoring several steps further, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has filed complaints against six mainstream Indian news channels, Aaj Tak, ABP News, Times Now Navbharat, NDTV, India TV, and News18 this week. The complaints detail three key instances of misinformation. Five channels – Aaj Tak, ABP News, Times Now Navbharat, NDTV, and India TV – broadcasted a four-year-old video of Israel’s Iron Dome, falsely presenting it as recent footage of Indian air defence systems in Jaisalmer. These channels claimed the footage showed India thwarting Pakistani aerial threats.

Separately, News18 falsely identified Maulana Qari Mohammad Iqbal, an Indian religious scholar and educator, as a Pakistani terrorist killed in an Indian airstrike. News18’s report, titled “India’s air strike Pakistan: Operation Sindoor,” claimed Iqbal was a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander. CJP’s complaint iterated that Iqbal was not a terrorist, claims that the unfortunate teacher’s family had stated on social media and even the Poonch police had clarified: Maulana Iqbal had died in cross-border shelling while adding relevant evidence in its complaint against the channels for its inaccurate broadcast.

Additionally, Aaj Tak broadcasted old footage of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, falsely claiming it showed Indian attacks on Pakistan during “Operation Sindoor”. CJP’s complaints highlight serious ethical breaches, including the use of misleading visuals, sensationalist commentary, and theatrical framing to manipulate public perception. CJP is demanding on-air corrections, public apologies, and the removal of the misleading content.

Fake War Footage: Old Israeli defence videos masqueraded as airstrikes in Jaisalmer

During a critical moment of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in May 2025, multiple mainstream Indian news channels — including Aaj Tak, ABP News, Times Now Navbharat, NDTV, and India TV — broadcasted a four-year-old video showing Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system. These visuals were falsely presented as recent, exclusive footage of Indian air defence systems thwarting Pakistani aerial threats in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

News channels misrepresent outdated foreign footage as breaking war coverage

Aaj Tak

On May 14, CJP filed a complaint with Aaj Tak regarding a misrepresented broadcast, as on May 9, Aaj Tak aired a show hosted by senior anchor Anjana Om Kashyap under the sensational title, “पाकिस्तान पर भारत पर भारत का चौतरफा हमला, Lahore-Karachi में भारी नुक़सान [India’s All-Around Attack on Pakistan, Heavy Losses in Lahore-Karachi].” Kashyap claimed the visuals depicted a Pakistani drone attack being repelled in Jaisalmer. The same footage was shown by anchor Shweta Singh, again framed as evidence of India’s successful defence.

Archived combat footage passed off as real-time strikes during ‘Operation Sindoor’: Aaj Tak uses Israeli airstrike footage to claim Indian attacks on Pakistan

Similarly, as reports of India’s military strikes under “Operation Sindoor” on May 7, 2025, began to surface, Aaj Tak broadcast visuals that allegedly showed seven Indian missiles being launched, claiming they were live visuals from Bahawalpur, Pakistan — a hub of terrorist activity. The footage was shared both on air and on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), captioned “ऑपरेशन सिंदूर | ऐसे ध्वस्त हुआ जैश का आतंकी अड्डा [Operation Sindoor | How the Jaish Terrorist Base Was Destroyed].”

ऑपरेशन सिंदूर | ऐसे ध्वस्त हुआ जैश का आतंकी अड्डा #OperationSindoor #Pakistan #IndianArmy #IndianAirforce #IndiaStrikesTerroristan #PahalgamTerrorAttack | @anjanaomkashyap pic.twitter.com/DxwLnhmDUr

— AajTak (@aajtak) May 7, 2025

However, reverse image searches revealed that these visuals were not recent, nor were they connected to any Indian military action. Instead, they were taken from a report by Sputnik Armenia published on October 13, 2023, depicting Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. The original footage was also corroborated by the Israeli Air Force’s own records and shared on their official Facebook page.

Fact-checkers debunk false Media claims

Further confirmation came from multiple sources, including Al Mayadeen and BBC journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh, CJP’s complaint described this as not merely an error but a calculated attempt to dramatise the news cycle.  The same video resurfaced a few days later and was used by the media outlet Al Mayadeen in their video report on bombings in Gaza on October 23, 2023.

In doing so, the channel undermined public trust, misinformed citizens about the reality of ongoing military operations, and potentially destabilised diplomatic efforts through the spread of inflammatory, inaccurate content.

CJP in its complaint to Aaj Tak, also mentioned other social media accounts had also shared the identical video on October 13, 2023. Links to these X posts are available:

Heavy Israeli airstrikes continued in the Gaza Strip tonight. pic.twitter.com/nVG7x0qVv1

— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) October 12, 2023

Israel is currently carrying out a MASSIVE airstrike on Gaza. pic.twitter.com/yqi0zBzfue

— Censored Men (@CensoredMen) October 12, 2023

#IsraelPalestineConflict Israel Forces attack Gaza.https://t.co/kt7X1rLBKP #Israel #IsraelFightsBack #Gaza #GazaUnderAttack #Hamas_is_ISIS #Hamas #HamasMassacre #HamasTerrorism #HamasISIS #Palestine #PalestineUnderAttack #palastine #WestBank pic.twitter.com/6dMMGEXTxA

— People’s Eye (@eye_peoples) October 13, 2023

Gaza |

Intense bombings are now striking Gaza, causing significant tremors. In the past two hours alone, Israeli warplanes have claimed the lives of 40 Palestinians. pic.twitter.com/8PPTRry05k

— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) October 12, 2023

These broadcasts, as outlined in the CJP’s complaint to above channels, reflect systemic problems in how certain mainstream media outlets handle news during national crises. From falsifying battlefield footage to wrongfully branding civilians as terrorists, and recycling old foreign war clips as current Indian military action, the channels prioritised sensationalism over accuracy.

The complaint may be read here:

ABP News

On May 15, 2025, ABP News also faced CJP’s complaint with its May 8, 2025 bulletin titled “India Pakistan War Update: श्रीनगर और लुधियाना में ब्लैक आउट.” Through the broadcast, Anchor Chitra Tripathi and a field reporter stated unequivocally that a Pakistani drone strike had just been neutralised in Jaisalmer using Indian defence systems. ABP presented them with no disclaimers, context, or source attribution.

The channel presented the visuals, which bore a striking resemblance to Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system in action, as exclusive footage originating from Jaisalmer and depicting events that had occurred “a short while ago.” This purported visual evidence was displayed throughout a substantial portion of the broadcast, from the 00:01 to the 05:29 timestamp. Adding to the gravity of the claim, the anchor, Chitra Tripathi, explicitly stated that a “drone attack happened in Jaisalmer.”

Furthermore, the reporting included a correspondent who affirmed that “the Indian missiles/counter drone system destroyed the drone attack” [Time Stamp: 02:30 – 03:30]. By presenting unverified and, as later revealed, outdated footage as a real-time depiction of a critical security event in a sensitive border region, ABP News engaged in a serious act of misrepresentation and disseminated potentially inflammatory misinformation to its viewers. This broadcast had the potential to significantly shape public perception during a period of heightened national anxiety, CJP’s complaint mentioned

CJP mentioned in its complaint that “Despite this, ABP News aired the video as breaking and exclusive news footage, implicitly suggesting to viewers that Indian air defence forces had successfully repelled an actual Pakistani air attack. No disclaimers, source identification, or verification notes were presented either during or after the broadcast. The footage was shared with a tone of real-time urgency, further misleading the public into believing that an active military escalation was underway.”

The complaint may be read here:

Times Now Navbharat

On May 15, CJP filed a complaint with Times Now Navbharat for its May 9 broadcast, titled “#BharatPAKWarBREAKING: भारत-पाकिस्तान युद्ध पर अमेरिका का बयान- ‘हम भारत को नहीं रोक सकते’ [U.S. statement on the India-Pakistan war: ‘We cannot stop India].” CJP mentioned that the broadcast of India TV amplified similar claims, airing the same misleading visuals on May 9 under the tag “#BharatPAKWarBREAKING.” The channel claimed Pakistani strikes had been intercepted in Jaisalmer, echoing the others’ false narratives.

The complaint may be read here:

NDTV

On May 15, CJP filed a complaint with NDTV for its May 8 broadcast nearly identical visuals under the headline “India-Pakistan Tension: पाकिस्तान के खिलाफ भारत का जवाबी हमला शुरू.” Again, the footage was presented without context, implying a real-time military development.

The complaint may be read here:

India TV

On May 16, CJP filed a complaint with India TV over the broadcast of inaccurate and misleading visuals. CJP finds that the channel on May 9 falsely claimed that Pakistani drones were shot down in Ramgarh, Jaisalmer. while the channel did not explicitly state that the video footage was from Ramgarh, Jaisalmer, it was presented alongside a report alleging that Pakistani drones had been intercepted in the area— without any disclaimer or clarification.

This created a misleading impression that the visuals were authentic, recent, and directly related to the reported incident, particularly within the context of escalating India-Pakistan tensions. The lack of any on-screen disclaimer or contextual clarification further supported this illusion, making it appear as though viewers were witnessing real-time footage of Indian forces responding to a Pakistani attack.

Such tactics exploit the emotive power of visuals for sensational effect, prioritising ratings over responsibility. In a volatile geopolitical climate, this kind of reporting is not only ethically indefensible but socially dangerous. It undermines public trust in the media, distorts the reality of conflict, and risks escalating tensions based on manufactured impressions.

The complaint may be read here:

CJP flags intentional misinformation and potential public harm and panic

In its complaints to the channels, CJP detailed how the broadcasts misinformed and misled viewers by using dramatic, outdated footage to fabricate a false narrative of live military engagement. CJP asserted that this went beyond mere editorial oversight, constituting a serious ethical breach. The combination of misleading visuals, sensationalist commentary, and theatrical framing served to manipulate public perception and exploit viewers’ emotions amid a period of real geopolitical tension.

Original video was uploaded to YouTube channel named @NSFchannel on May 11, 2021

CJP in its complaint against six mainstream news channels, cited an investigation by independent fact-checking organisation Alt News, titled “Aaj Tak, NDTV, Times Now, News18 & others ran 4-yr-old video as aerial fight over Jaisalmer.“ The fact-check revealed that the video aired by these channels as supposed footage of India’s air defence system intercepting Pakistani aerial threats was originally uploaded to YouTube on May 11, 2021, by a channel named NSF Channel.

The original caption clearly identified the visuals as showing Israel’s Iron Dome in action. Despite this information being publicly available for years, the news channels misleadingly presented the clip during heightened India-Pakistan tensions in May 2025, risking public panic, misinformation, and further hostility.

While Alt News could not independently confirm that the footage showed the Iron Dome specifically, it conclusively established that the video was at least four years old and entirely unrelated to the 2025 conflict, making its use by the news channels a serious breach of journalistic integrity.

Misidentifying an Indian educator as a Pakistani terrorist: a dangerous act of defamation: News18 insensitively labels civilian death as terror elimination

On May 14 (2025), CJP also sent a formal complaint to News 18, as on May 7, 2025, News18 aired a segment titled “India’s air strike Pakistan: Operation Sindoor में मारा गया आतंकी Mohammad Iqbal |India Pak War,” claiming that a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander named Mohammad Iqbal had been killed in an Indian airstrike. This “most-wanted terrorist,” the report alleged, had been neutralised during “Operation Sindoor.”

Link for the contentious programme- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swmMklh41No

CJP’s submission in its complaint reiterated that in reality, Maulana Qari Mohammad Iqbal was not a terrorist but a religious scholar and educator from Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir. He taught at Jamia Zia-ul-Uloom and had no ties to any militant organisation. He tragically lost his life in cross-border shelling — not during an anti-terror operation — contrary to what several media outlets falsely reported.

According to the CJP complaint, independent fact-checks and official confirmations, including from the district police, have unequivocally established that he had no links to militancy. Media platforms misappropriated his identity, even using an image originally posted in a condolence message by Jamia’s deputy administrator, Mr. Sayeed Ahmed Habib. His grieving family, including brother-in-law Ishaq Khayan and brother Qari Mohammad Farookh, have condemned the coverage as defamatory and deeply distressing.

In its complaints, CJP cited the Alt News fact-check published on May 10, 2025, titled “His name was Qari Mohammad Iqbal. He was not a terrorist.” In response to the misinformation, CJP has added the case to its complaint against the circulation of fake news and communal profiling by certain media houses.

Facts vs Fabrication: Media’s reckless misreporting exposed

CJP’s complaint to channels included findings from various independent fact-checkers and official confirmations that debunked News18’s claim. Local police authorities, his family, and his colleagues confirmed that Qari Iqbal was not involved in any unlawful activities. The image used by the channel was originally part of a condolence message from a colleague, Sayeed Ahmed Habib.

In an official statement, Jamia Zia Ul Uloom, the institution where Iqbal worked, called the portrayal “shameful” and “deeply regrettable.” They demanded a public apology from the channels that misreported the story and warned of legal action if no corrective steps were taken.

Family demands strict action against those spreading misinformation

Qari Mohammad Iqbal’s family has demanded strict action against those spreading misinformation.

“We were already in mourning, and now this false narrative has added to our pain. Sections of the ‘Godi media’ are falsely labeling him as a Pakistani terrorist, which is absolutely baseless. We strongly condemn this defamation and appeal to the District Collector (DC Saab) to take immediate and appropriate action,” the family stated.

Qari Iqbal Mohammad’s family demands action against ‘Godi media’ for falsely labelling him a Pakistani terrorist.

They claimed that he was killed in Indian airstrikes in Pakistan.

Fact: He was killed in Pakistani shelling in Poonch. pic.twitter.com/cXpD2RYXaQ

— Alishan Jafri (@alishan_jafri) May 8, 2025

Maulana Mohd Iqbal had no terror links: district Poonch police

In response to misinformation circulating on social media and certain digital platforms, Poonch Police, through its official X handle, issued a clear and firm statement addressing the matter.

“Poonch Police refutes fake news circulating about the death of Maulana Mohd Iqbal in cross-border shelling. He had no terror links. Misreporting causes panic and legal action will follow against those spreading misinformation,” the post read.

Poonch Police refutes fake news circulating about the death of Maulana Mohd Iqbal in cross-border shelling. He had no terror links. Misreporting causes panic and Legal action will follow against those spreading misinformation. @JmuKmrPolice @ZPHQJammu @digrprange

— DISTRICT POLICE POONCH (@Poonch_Police) May 8, 2025

The clarification comes amid a surge in unverified reports alleging that Maulana Mohd Iqbal, a respected local religious figure, was killed in cross-border shelling and had affiliations with terror groups — both claims now officially denied.

The incident reveals a disturbing tendency in segments of the news channels, the urge to capitalise on conflict by rushing to label civilians as enemies. This not only violates journalistic ethics but inflicts real harm on grieving families and distorts the facts on the ground, CJP strongly argued in its complaints

Violations of NBDSA Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards

Violation of Fundamental Principles

The complaints submitted by CJP highlights multiple violations of the NBDSA’s Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards by Aaj Tak, ABP News, NDTV, India TV, Times Now Navbharat, and News18. Citing Section 1 – Fundamental Principles of the Code, the complaints underscore that professional electronic journalists are obligated to act as trustees of public interest, and to “seek the truth and report it fairly with integrity and independence.” This obligation includes ensuring the dissemination of verified and accurate information, enabling the public to form their own opinions based on facts, and being accountable to the citizenry by not misleading them, especially during sensitive national moments.

However, it was found that in the broadcasts aired by the aforementioned channels, a video of unverified origin—purportedly showing a Pakistani air attack foiled in Jaisalmer—was broadcast without authentication. In doing so, the channels compromised accuracy by failing to verify the origin or authenticity of the footage prior to airing, thereby misleading audiences and violating the ethical foundations of journalism meant to serve the public interest.

The complaints noted that this constituted a betrayal of the media’s role as a platform for truthful and balanced information, and described it as a grave dereliction of professional responsibility, particularly during a conflict scenario where misinformation can easily shape public perception, trigger mass fear, or escalate geopolitical tensions.

Breach of Principles of Self-Regulation and National Security

Further, under Section 2 – Principles of Self-Regulation, it was found that the broadcasters violated norms concerning impartiality, objectivity, and neutrality. The complaints emphasised that while 24-hour news channels are expected to operate with speed, accuracy and balance must take precedence. In the May 9, 2025 broadcast, the channels reportedly prioritised sensationalism over verified information. The use of inaccurate and outdated footage as alleged real-time visuals demonstrated a reckless disregard for factual accuracy and ethical broadcasting standards. No clarifications or corrective statements were issued, thereby compounding the breach of accountability.

Additionally, the complaint raised concerns under the guidelines on reporting crime and violence, stating that the channels aired visuals originally depicting Israeli military operations while falsely presenting them as Indian actions.

This misrepresentation glorified violent retaliation and military aggression, and the use of graphic imagery combined with a triumphant tone amounted to glamorisation of cross-border violence, potentially inciting emotional and nationalistic fervour among viewers. The complaints also stated that the portrayal of a foreign missile defence system as an Indian military success misled the public and desensitised audiences to the real dangers of armed conflict by falsely boosting perceptions of India’s defence capabilities.

Moreover, CJP’s complaints cited violations related to national security, noting that the dissemination of false information during an already volatile military situation between India and Pakistan risked endangering operational confidentiality and public safety. By misreporting the scale and location of military operations and falsely broadcasting visuals of active air defence systems, the channels undermined diplomatic efforts and national security interests.

CJP concluded that such actions had the potential to mislead international observers, escalate bilateral tensions, and severely compromise journalistic responsibility in moments of national significance.

Violation of government advisories

This coverage is also in direct violation of multiple advisories issued by government authorities

including the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting:

“Advisory on live/real-time coverage of defence operations (MIB Advisory dated April 25, 2025): All media channels, digital platforms and individuals are advised to refrain from live coverage or real-time reporting of defence operations and movement of security forces. Disclosure of such sensitive or source-based information may jeopardise operational effectiveness.”

The news channels, in their rush to report “military actions,” irresponsibly broadcasted speculative and unverified visuals during prime-time programming, falsely portraying old footage from a different conflict zone as evidence of India’s military strikes over Pakistan’s drone. This not only misled the public but also potentially compromised operational and national security.

Advisory to counter disinformation during sensitive times

CJP stated that, through social media platforms, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had urged citizens to, in sensitive times like these, be wary of disinformation being spread on social media. The advisory emphasised verifying any piece of news, image, or video before sharing or forwarding.

The broadcast in question blatantly disregarded this advisory by airing unverified and repurposed footage — originally the Iron Dome from 2021 — and falsely presenting as authentic visuals from an ongoing India-Pakistan conflict. This constitutes a serious breach of ethical responsibility, especially during heightened national tension.

In sensitive times like these, it is necessary to be wary of disinformation being spread on social media.

Always verify any piece of news, image, or video before you forward.

If you come across suspicious or misleading content, report it to @PIBFactCheck #FactCheck… pic.twitter.com/UBNCdvy5gB

— Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) May 9, 2025

CJP highlights potential consequences of irresponsible coverage

The recent use of misleading and outdated footage by major news channels such as AAJ Tak, India TV, Times Now Navbharat, NDTV, ABP News, and News18 constitutes a serious violation of journalistic ethics and regulatory standards. These channels have relied on three key forms of misinformation: the airing of old Israeli defence videos passed off as Indian airstrikes, the wrongful identification of an Indian educator as a Pakistani terrorist, and the misrepresentation of archived combat footage as real-time military operations during ‘Operation Sindoor’. These missteps form the basis of six core complaints:

1.  Fake War Footage: The channels aired outdated Israeli airstrike and iron dome videos, misidentifying them as Indian airstrikes in Jaisalmer, misleading the public during a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
2.  Dangerous Defamation: An Indian educator was falsely labelled as a Pakistani terrorist, a gross act of defamation that puts innocent lives at risk.
3.  Erroneous Terrorism Reporting: News 18 wrongly portrayed civilian deaths as the elimination of terrorists, perpetuating dangerous narratives and misinformation.

This type of misreporting is deeply concerning, as it not only escalates public panic but also influences national sentiment with falsehoods, contributing to a climate of fear and hostility. Senior journalists, who are typically trusted by the public for accurate reporting, further amplify the damage by failing to properly verify the footage. Basic checks, such as reverse image searches, could have easily identified the true origins of the material, but these were overlooked.

CJP asserted that, the consequences of such reckless coverage are severe. These actions risk destabilising regional diplomatic relations, undermine public trust in the media, and trivialise the suffering caused by real global conflicts. Given the responsibility of the media to inform the public with accuracy and fairness, especially during sensitive geopolitical moments, these channels have failed to uphold their duty, deepening scepticism toward legitimate news and paving the way for further disinformation. The channels must act promptly to remove these videos and issue a public apology, ensuring that only verified, factual content is broadcast during national crises.

CJP urged immediate action from all channels

In light of the serious violations outlined, CJP demands immediate corrective and restorative actions from the six channels involved — AAJ Tak, India TV, Times Now Navbharat, NDTV, ABP News, and News18:

• Corrigendum and on-air correction: Acknowledge and correct the false claims aired on the channels, through on-air corrections with equal prominence and visibility as the original segments. we must be scheduled to attract maximum viewer attention, and not relegated to off-peak timeslots.
• Public apology to viewers and affected communities: A formal, unconditional apology must be issued by the channels, both on-air and on all digital platforms, for the dissemination of false and misleading visuals and the resultant panic and misinformation caused.
• Immediate removal of the broadcast videos and related content from the channels must be permanently removed from all platforms, including YouTube and X, to prevent continued circulation of this misinformation

Over News18’s misreporting, CJP insists on a formal and unconditional apology. This apology must be prominently broadcast on-air and across all digital platforms, directly addressing the profound pain and defamation inflicted upon the family and the community of Poonch, CJP asked

Related:

Broadcasting Bias: CJP’s fight against hatred in Indian news

NBDSA cracks down on biased anchors: Orders content removal from Times Now Navbharat and Zee News based on CJP’s complaints

Holding power to account: CJP’s efforts to combat hate and polarisation

The post Apology and Accountability: CJP files complaint with six news channels for airing misleading war clips, false terror claims in ‘Operation Sindoor’ coverage appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On February 29, activist Indrajeet Ghorpade received four favourable orders from NBDSA. There orders were issued by the statutory commission, presided over by retired Supreme Court judge Justice AK Sikri, upon three complaints filed by the complainant against three separate news channels for airing news programmes that were violative of the guidelines set by the NBDSA. Through the three orders, a monetary penalty of Rs. 1 lakh has been imposed upon Times Now Navbharat Rs 1,00,000, while News 18 India has to pay a fine of Rs 50,000. Furthermore, the commission has issued a warning to Aaj Tak. Additionally, all three channels have been directed to remove the online uploads of the offending programs within seven days. Notably, all the three have been found guilty of airing content that spreads hatred and communal disharmony.

1. Order of Times Now Navbharat:

Complaint: On June 3, 2023, activist Indrajeet had filed a complaint with Times Now Navbharat. He had flagged the tickers and headlines showcased during the show that had been aimed at demonising and spreading hatred against the Muslim Community. The complainant had also highlighted the many generalised statements against the Muslim community that were made during the show with no basis. Notably, the murder of Sharaddha Walker was repeatedly given a communal angle and used to colour Muslim men as suspicious.

Order: NBDSA imposed a fine of Rs. 1 lakh on Times Now Navbharat after finding anchor Himanshu Dixit to have targeted the Muslim community and generalised inter-faith relationships as “love jihad”. In its order, the commission took objection to the Times Now Navbharat program on “love jihad” and observed, “on a perusal of the impugned broadcast, it appears that at the very beginning of the broadcast, the anchor has concluded that men from a certain community lured women from another community by hiding their religious identity and then committed violence or murders against such women and every such violence or murder committed on women of a certain community related to ‘love jihad’. This is evident from the questions raised and statements made by the anchor during the impugned broadcast. When some of the panellists expressed their concerns regarding the communal angle being given to such alleged incidents and regarding selective cases of violence against women where the perpetrator belonged to a particular community, the anchor shouted them down and did not allow them to express their views.”

In furtherance to this, NBDSA also observed that there may be some instances where boys from a particular community married Hindu girls, however the same does not give a warrant for news anchors to make generalised statement. The order stated, “Some such instances should not lead to making generalized statements regarding inter-faith marriages by giving it a communal colour. Every citizen, from whichever religion, has a right to marry a person of his/her choice, irrespective of the religion to which he/she belongs. Merely because a Hindu girl married a boy of another faith would not tantamount to love jihad unless it is established that such a Hindu girl was duped or coerced into the marriage. Further, because of few incidents of such forced marriages, an entire community cannot be branded. Thus, it was not proper to generalize the incidents with the tickers such as “Love तो बहाना है … Hindu बेटियाँ निशाना हैं” Jihadiyon se Beti Bachao”.

NBDSA further pointed out that the term “love jihad” should be used sensibly in future broadcasts since religious stereotypes can damage the country’s secular fabric. NBDSA considered that if incidents had been discussed or debated independently, they would have fallen under the bounds of journalistic freedom and stated “It is the generalization of these incidents by targeting the entire community, which is found to be violative of the principles of Impartiality, Objectivity and Neutrality under the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards (“Code of Ethics”) and the Specific Guidelines covering Reportage relating to Racial and Religious Harmony. In the impugned broadcast, the anchor had also violated Clauses (f) and (h) of the Specific Guidelines for Anchors conducting Programmes including Debates”.

The complete order can be viewed here:

2. Order of News 18:

Complaint: A total of four shows that had been aired by News18 were complained against by activist Indrajeet. It had been contended by the complainant that these four shows. All of which were based around the themes of ‘Love Jihad’, had violated the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards and Guidelines relating to neutrality, accuracy, fairness, religious harmony, sensationalisation of crime, negative stereotyping and good taste.

Order: Through its order, the NBDSA slapped a fine of Rs. 50,000 on News 18 India for three shows, two of which were anchored by Aman Chopra, and one by Amish Devgan. These shows were found to have communalized the Shradda Walker case as “love jihad.” Notably, the remaining one broadcast was a subject-matter of an FIR registered in Bharatpur, Rajasthan and thus, the commission could not take cognizance of the same.

In the order, the commission stated that “while the media has the right to conduct debates on any topic of its choice, however, it may have been inappropriate for the broadcaster to haveconducted several debated on the subject of “love jihad” while linking it to the Sharaddha Walker murder case”.

It further added that “NBDSA stated that the term ‘love jihad’ should not be used loosely and should be used with great introspection in future broadcasts as religious stereotyping can corrode the secular fabric of the country, cause irreparable harm to a community and create religious intolerance or disharmony.”

The complete order can be viewed here:

3. Order of Aaj Tak:

Complaint: The third complaint had been filed by activist Indrajeet against the ‘Black and White’ show anchored by Sudhir Chaudhary and aired on Aaj Tak. Through the complaint, the complainant has specifically pointed to the false statements made by the host to target and create hatred and fear against the Muslim community. In the complaint, the complainant wrote that “the broadcasters chose to look away from the rampant discrimination that Dalits and Muslims face. Instead, it ran a show portraying Muslim people as rioters and Muslim areas as mini-Pakistan.”

 Order: In its order, NBDSA observed that there would not have been a problem with the broadcast if the broadcaster had confined its analysis to the incidents of communal violence, but the tickers that were shown during the programme portrayed a completely different picture. Additionally, NBDSA noted that the violence committed by a few miscreants was generalised by the anchor to target a particular community.

The order stated “NBDSA observed that there would have been no problem with the broadcast if the broadcaster had confined its analysis to the incidents of communal violence. However, by broadcasting the following tickers ‘today Muslim areas, tomorrow Muslim country’, a completely different colour had been given to the programme.”

With this, the authority directed the broadcaster to remove the video of the said broadcast from its channels and websites within 7 days of the order.

The complete order can be viewed here:

4. Order of India Today

Complaint: On June 30, 2023, a complaint against a programme titled “Nudity sparks outrage at USA pride parades- How India’s LGBTQ+ lead Responsibility” aired by India Today had been filed by activist Indrajeet. Through the complaint, the complainant has emphasised upon the false images that were show during the show to spread hatred and homophobia. In the complaint, the complainant had stated that “a simple reverse image search can help separate facts from fake news. However, it is clear that the broadcaster was either incapable of fact-finding or had malafide intent to sensationalise and spread fear against minority communities.”

Order: Noting that the broadcaster had utilised images sourced from USA and made false assertions regarding them to instil fear amongst the audience regarding the LGBTQIA+, NBDSA observed that the visuals and images used were “totally out of context” and were not part of the incident covered was a violation of the principle of accuracy. With this, the commission ordered the broadcaster to edit the video of the said broadcast by expunging the objectionable parts or if that is not possible, to remove the video, from all websites and channels within 7 days.

Apart from following the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards and Guidelines, members were also circulated a set of guidelines for broadcasting on issues concerning the LGBTQIA+ community, for “strict compliance” after the commission noted that several complaints had been received by concerning reporting on LGBTQIA+ issues.

The complete order can be viewed here:

Other orders issued:

In addition to the aforementioned four orders, NBDSA had issued more such orders. Another ‘Black and White show’ hosted by Sudhir Chaudhary on former US President Barack Obama’s comments on the protection of minorities in India while PM Narendra Modi was on a state visit to America came under the scanner of the authority. On the complaint filed against the same, the NBDSA found that apart from finding “a violation of the principles of Objectivity and Neutrality”, the broadcast had violated the Specific Guidelines for Anchors, which stated that “all programmes must be presented in an impartial, objective and neutral manner”.

As per a report of the Indian Express, the order stated that by using words “Tukde Tukde Gang”, “Khalistani in Punjab” and “Pakistani supporters” instead of confining its discussion to Obama’s statement, the broadcaster had failed to present a controversial issue with sensitivity and objectivity. With this, NBDSA slapped the broadcaster with a fine of Rs. 75,000 and directed them to remove the video of the show. In addition to this, the broadcaster was also advised by the commission to ensure that “in future broadcasts, controversial subjects are fairly presented with strict adherence to the principles of Neutrality, Impartiality and Objectivity in the broadcast”.

Another complaint had been filed against an episode the ‘Black and White show that aired on Aaj Tak in March 24 last year. . Notably, the show had aired a day after a Surat court convicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of defamation for a 2019 speech about thieves with the surname Modi. The said complaint had been filed by Youth Congress president Srinivas B V on a fictional video of Rahul Gandhi that was shown in the programme. In its decision, NBDSA observed that the “story of the robber and the imputation it carried” with Gandhi’s conviction was “not in good taste” and “should have been avoided”. The NBDSA also advised the channel to be “careful while airing such fictional videos” in future.

CJP complaints to NBDSA over the years:

Since 2018, Citizens for Justice and Peace has been consistently monitoring news programmes being broadcasted contentiously and with the aim of spreading its partisan agenda. Over the years, a total of 23 complaints have been filed by the human rights organisation with the NBDSA. Out of these 23 complaints, 8 have been filed against Times Now Navbharat, 3 against Zee News, 4 against Aaj tak and 2 against Times Now.

In addition to this, out of the complaints filed, 4 had Sudhir Chaudhary as its host/anchor, 2 had been hosted by Aman Chopra and 7 were against shows hosted by Rakesh Pandey. Notably, a total of 7 complaints remain pending with NBDSA and the arguments are yet to take place. Out of the remaining 15 complaints that have been decided by the commission, 13 have resulted in removal of the contentious shows. Additionally, in two cases, monetary penalty of Rs.50,000 and Rs. 25,000 were also imposed.

Details of the complaints filed can be viewed here:

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Through the complaint, the complainant has highlighted the casteist statements made by host Sudhir Chaudhary in regards to the Tribal political leader and his family. The complaint has stated “Chaudhary targeted the tribal minister for his purported wealth, cars and lifestyle, and was seemingly less concerned with the charges of money laundering levied against him. Justifying the title of the show, which purported the examination of the Soren family, the host has put forth a distorted image of a Tribal family enjoying wealth by misusing the votes given to the tribal politician based on his identity.”

Emphasising that the host has unnecessarily dragged the most marginalised ethnic and minority communities into an issue that did not warrant any scrutiny of the caste of a respected and beloved politician, the complaint also highlighted that the host did not once attempt to impartially examine what the “charges” are against him given that in his defence, the former chief minister has stated – as have his Supreme Court counsel—that his name does not figure (not does his family member’s) in the alleged “land scam” which too sates back to 2008-2009.

In the complaint, it has been stated that “The host let loose his biases in a diatribe, using stigmatising language and imagery as also innate prejudices (among the caste privileged) against the Tribal community cloud the role he is supposed to play in a news show that have a big viewership and following.”

The channel now has 7 days to respond to the complaint raised by CJP, or else the complainant will be escalating the same with the News Broadcasting Digital and Standards Authority (NBDSA).

The complete complaint can be read here:

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CJP complaint to Aaj Tak for airing show using the term “Mazaar Jihad”

CJP has filed a complaint in the NBDSA urging action against the divisive narrative in Sudhir Chaudhary’s show on Aaj Tak

CJP’s NBDSA Complaints 2023: A look at the repeated violation of ethics and guidelines by Indian television channels

The post CJP sends complaint to Aaj Tak to remove contentious ‘Black and White Show’ on Hemant Soren from YouTube appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The complaint had highlighted the communal discourse that were to both shows. Unsurprisingly, both these shows had been hosted by Sudhir Chaudhary. On one of his ‘Black and White’ shows, that aired in October last year, had raised the issue of “Muslim participation in Garba festivals”. The show contained projections of prejudice against Islam, manipulated facts of the matter and was presented by a host with a distinctly communal slur and an anti-Muslim bias.

In the other show, Sudhir had, as anchor, made unfounded claims about illegal mazaars being found on government land in Uttarakhand, especially on forest land, and had thereby stigmatised the whole Muslim community. Based on the complaints raised, the NBDSA reprimanded the channel for using the term ‘Mazhaar Jihaad’ unnecessarily and loosely and also ordered the channel to remove the video of the show in one case.

First complaint- Muslim youth entering Garba Pandals

The complaint– On October 20, CJP have moved the NBDSA against Aaj Tak’s ‘Black and White Show’ for containing themes of communal divide throughout its narrative. Through the complaint, CJP had objected to the tone, tenor and choice of words spoken as well as displayed on the screen during the show. As per the complaint, certain statements made by Sudhir Chaudhary were so denigrating that it made his communal narrative clearly visible and obvious, threatening to mar, even destroy the secular fabric of the country.  It was highlighted that the brazen remarks that have been made by Sudhir Chaudhary directly fell with offensive and communal lines, which goes against the ethics of journalism and principles of self- regulation, including the code laid down by the NBDSA. The complaint also brought forward a gross violation on part of Aaj Tak, wherein attempts hadf been made to pitch the Hindu community against the Muslim community by bringing up issues of conflict during the show. Additionally, the host had also presented unfounded “data” that claimed that the channel’s team went to the pandals and found that Muslim boys are befriending Hindu girls.

The decision: The NBDSA raised strong objections to the generalisation made in the course of the show wherein the intentions of all the Muslims entering Garba pandals were “suspect” and “deemed to be malafide”. The anchor had, through aggressive communal participants, observed that “all (such Muslims) e who tried to participate in the events were anti-nationals and did not believe in the festivals.” The NBDSA observed that such baseless statements were made by the broadcasters without any study or analysis. It was further held that by generalising the incidents, the broadcaster had given a communal tilt which was violative of the guidelines laid down by the Commission. The NBDSA also noted that by airing the impugned broadcast, there was a gross violation of the guidelines that prevented communal colour to be given to news reporting related to crimes, riots, rumours, etc.

For the violations committed, the NBDSA warned the broadcaster to not repeat the same in the future and telecast the programme in more objective manner. NBDSA directed that the broadcaster remove the video of the impugned show from their channel and/or Youtube along with all the hyperlinks, and confirm the same to the NBDSA in writing within seven days of the order.

The complete order can be read here: (Order 168)

Second complaint- Show decrying the bogey of ‘Mazhaar Jihaad’

The Complaint- On April 20, a complaint was filed by CJP with the NBDSA over a show aired on Aaj Tak on April 6 hosted by Sudhir Chaudhary. On his show ‘Black and white’ Chaudhary spoke on the issue of illegal mazaars being found on government land in Uttarakhand, especially forest land for which the producers of the show also carried out a ‘ground report’. Based on the said ‘report’, Sudhir had claimed that when these mazaars were demolished with bulldozers and inspected, it was found that the graves did not have any human remains in them. However, no official source has been cited in the same.

Through its complaint, CJP pointed out that the host and the channel missed the bus on getting their facts right while stigmatizing the Muslim community by labelling them and referring to them in a denigrating manner.it was also highlighted tin the complaint that the claims made by Sudhir have been debunked by an official report by the forest department which stated that there are more illegal temples in forest areas than illegal mazaars which takes away completely the basis on which the show was aired.

The decision: The NBDSA observed that the anchor should have avoided using the term ‘Mazhaar Jihad’ while reporting on the issue of illegal encroachment as it gave a totally different dimension to an otherwise valid issue raised by the broadcaster. In view of this, the NBDSA advised the broadcaster to not use the impugned term and be careful about the same in the future. 

In both the cases, CJP was represented by Advocate Aparna Bhatt and Advocate Karishma Maria.

The complete order can be read here: (Order 175)

Download PDF

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“Love jihad” is now entrenched in the public landscape. The term is today wielded by an aggressive majoritarianism, woven into a dominant caste Hindu narrative of religious extremism, Islamophobia, and communal hatred that has crept into Indian courtroom discourse as well.”

– Teesta Setalvad, co-editor, Sabrangindia & Secretary, Citizens for Justice & Peace, 2020

The epithet “jihad” (in fact Jihad is an Islamic term that means “an obligation to lead a principled life” has been deliberately misinterpreted to become a slur). This slur has been devised by aggressive forces of bigoted majoritarianism and supremacy to slur and stigmatise all that is Islamic and Muslim.

From the Covid-19 Pandemic lockdown (2020) onwards when “respectable” television channels too telecast such slurs on their Hindi and even English language network telecasts, the term #CoronaJihad first gained ground.

Thereafter in the past three years, every couple of months, a well-oiled ecosystem of targeted hate speech that starts with BJP functionaries giving the “dog whistle” top-down in their public (read election) speeches is then picked up systematically by far rightwing speakers in their publicized diatribes. Then promptly comes the next level. What amplifies this systemic hate-mongering is the use these epithets that are then put to in several commercially driven “media” channels which –regardless of the first principles of independent and no-partisan content– create television debates constantly amplifying the term. Finally, these are morphed into easy to digest (sic) hate clips on WhatsApp groups and social media platforms!

Over past months the order can be reversed, with compliant media outlets actually generating the telecasts to provide fodder for the public diatribes!

The result? Open display of bigotry, Islamophobia and hate against Muslims is normalised.

The latest epithet to be added to a long, prejudicial terms is #Gaming Jihad.

Following its “success” in disseminating propaganda about the Covid-19 pandemic being spread because of one two day public gathering at Nizamuddin in mid-March 2020 (#CorononaJihad), it was “Hindu women being targeted by the Muslim men, terming it ‘Love Jihad’”.

Then came “Hindu majority being ‘out-populated’ by the Muslim community”= #‘Population Jihad;

Then it was “Muslims illegally capturing government land”=‘Land Jihad

Let’s not forget vicious propaganda unleashed against Islamic educational institutions #MadrassaJihad!

Now there is one more slur. Another different, yet similar, form of world manipulation and propaganda is being promoted systemically by the electronic media channels. Hysteric efforts are being made by media persons with clear allegiance to the Hindutva right to brainwash people into believing that another form of threat to Hindu children exists and this is #Gaming jihad.

What is this ‘#Gaming jihad’?

Reports on News Bharati (June 5, 2023), DNA (June 9, 2023) and Firstpost (June 8, 2023)were amongst the first to come out on this issue of “Gaming Jihad”. Here is how the propaganda on television channels works:

#Gaming Jihad: Muslim youth along with “Maulvis of Masjids (Mosques) use the medium of mobile games like ‘The fortnite’ to brainwash Hindu and Jain kids into converting to Islam by saying reading Aayats from Quran that can help them win games in. According to this narrative that feeds into the insidious “conversion to Islam” theory peddled even in movies like the Kerala Story, this phenomenon, #GamingJihad has come as a “shocking development” at a time when Hindu girls were just becoming aware of the Islamist concept of the ‘Love Jihad’ through movies and “news”. Thus, to fulfil their ultimate goal (which is to ensure a huge demographic shift!) , the “Islamic extremists” have now come up with new concepts to trap the Hindu girls and convert them to radical Islam.

The reports on these channels go further.

Propaganda Narrative behind #Gaming Jihad goes further Once kids do win the game by a set of tricks allowed by the app itself (The fortnite) they start believing that it is the power of these Quranic Aayats and would then be prepared and willing to even convert away from their religion.

Thereafter, says this narrative, these newly appointed Muslim youths in this network are then used to take Hindu and Jain kids onto another ‘Discord‘ chat app, show them Zakir Naik videos to brainwash them to the next level. The perpetrators, says this narrative, mainly use these games and chat apps to target teen-aged Hindu and Jain boys to convert to Islam.

The Citizens for Justice and Peace team has analysed these electronic media channels spawning the latest brand of slur.

The reports on #GamingJihad also say that though the concept of ‘#Gaming Jihad’ is new to India, its roots can be found in Pakistan.

Deconstruction of Propaganda Narrative:

There are no specific allegations that can be pin-pointed in these reports and programmes. It could be individual reports of a criminal complaint filed in some parts of the country, often where the BJP is in power. The television journalists (anchors) do little ground level homework to question or query the police version of the complaint or speak to the alleged “victim complainants.” Within hours that one incident becomes the basis for a new level of hate propaganda

The Ghaziabad case- the “racket of gaming jihad”

In early June 2023, reports of the Ghaziabad police catching a man, Abdul Rehman, who reportedly used to teach ‘verses from the Quran’ to minor children playing video games in the name of “winning” these games became public. A former member of the local mosque committee, Abdul Rehman was alleged to be “committing jihad by brainwashing these minor children to convert to Islam”, as was reported by the Firstpost on June 8, 2023.  It was then alleged that Abdul Rahman used to tell minor children about the greatness of Islam, and the weaknesses of their religion, as provided by the First post.

If the report provided by the Firstpost right-wing media is to be believed, this type of “jihad” case came to light when the parents of a minor boy, hailing from Ghaziabad, were shocked by their son’s actions. Their minor son, for the past few days, used to leave home on the pretext of going to the gym five times a day, but in reality, he was offering prayers at a mosque. After this, the minor’s father lodged a complaint in the police station. On May 30, the police registered an FIR in the said case, in which the cleric of the mosque in Sanjay Nagar Sector 23 of Ghaziabad, Abdul Rehman, and the accused named Baddo was mentioned.

As provided by the DNAIndia newspaper just a day later on June 9, 2023, the police have named both of them as accused. Abdul Rehman has been arrested by the police, but Shanawaj Masud Khan of Sajia Apartment, P.S. Mumbra, Thane, Maharashtra, who is believed to be the mastermind of this Cyber Gaming Jihad, is still out of the grips of the police.

This whole story of the Ghaziabad police busting an online conversion racket seems to be somehow inspired by the controversial film ‘The Kerala Story’, as is indicated in in the DNAIndia report, which depicts a group of non-Muslims women converted to Islam “by brainwashing them” and thereafter they are recruited by the ISIS. Kerala story was released on May 5, 2023.

Media coverage of the said issue

As soon as these reports were released, Aaj tak and Times Now were one of the first channels that took up this opportunity to unleash extremely unprofessional content.

Aaj Tak released a one-hour Black & White with Sudhir Chaudhary over the same, with the following description ‘There has been a big disclosure on religious conversion in Ghaziabad. An online gaming conversion racket was busted in which it was found that 4 children were influenced and changed their religion. Is mobile converting your child’s religion?’

Sudhir Chaudhary, who was hosting the show, started the show by telling his audience about how at least four cases of minor boys falling prey to this new type of ‘Jihad’ have surfaced in India, and how they viewed can express their opinions on the same by tweeting with the hashtag of gaming jihad. It is clear that the motive behind urging the viewers of the show was to ensure that the said hashtag starts trending on Twitter, and the reach of their propaganda increases.

The anchor then starts peddling his own theory (unsubstantiated by any factual cases), alleging that it is possible that four lakh minor  boys might have fallen victim to this ‘#Gaming Jihad’. We have attached a picture below depicting how Chaudhary has made this baseless exaggeration in his show, with the aim of instilling fear in the mind of its audience, convincing them that this is a conspiracy of the Muslim community.

Chaudhary called this form of #Gaming jihad a part of the Islamic conversion business model, something that all the Hindu parents must be wary of. He also called this the work of an international racket of conversion, aimed at converting Hindu young men into hardline Muslims. While Chaudhary was giving this report, videos showing Muslims walking on road, and offering prayers were also being shown. He also purported that this gaming jihad was made specifically for Hindu boys, as Hindu girls were anyway being targeted under Love Jihad.

The said video can be viewed here:

https://www.aajtak.in/programmes/black-and-white/video/sudhir-chaudhary-show-conspiracy-of-jihad-in-mobile-games-tmc-distributing-2000-notes-more-analysis-1710360-2023-06-06

Times Now Navbharat and TV9 Bharatvarsh also dedicated news segments on the said issue, both of which used this term “online gaming jihad”, and spread hatred and instilled fear in the minds of the Hindu population. The anchor of the TNN said that “the most dangerous thing is that the accused Maulvi not only committed jihad and converted the minor boy, but also made him a 5 time namazi.” (someone who prays five times a day).

Right wing leaders and agencies were quick to act

The right-wing ecosystem stepped in. As reported in the Indian Express, Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, on May 6, said a committee will be set up to look into online games related to religious conversion. Lodha told media persons, “There are shocking things happening in the name of online games. Such games are targeting the youth and small children. They are being lured to change their religion.”

“To check this religious conversion menace under online games, the state government’s women and child development ministry will constitute a committee. It will look into the online games and related aspects. We will submit the report to home ministry,” Lodha had added.

Lodha also said that the home department will play a crucial role in this matter. After the matter came to light, he said, we got to know a person who was involved with it fled. The matter will have to be proved and those involved behind such gaming will have to be nabbed, he added.

Apart from this, on the same day, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), an agency of the central government, also wrote to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) to initiate an enquiry against online gaming platform “Fortnite” and instant messaging social platform “Discord” for their alleged involvement in religious conversion of a minor boy in Ghaziabad.

“The Commission has come across a news article, wherein it has been informed that two men including a Caretaker of a Mosque in Ghaziabad and a man from Mumbai were involved in religious conversion of a minor boy through an online gaming platform, Fortnite,” said NCPCR’s Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo in a letter to Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Secretary, Meity., as reported by the Indian Express. The commission said, “The minor boy was lured into conversation through the said gaming platform, Fortnite and then brainwashed into religious conversion over another social platform, Discord.” The commission also requested for an enquiry to be initiated against Fortnite and Discord and an action-taken report submitted within 10 days.

It has become so easy for channels, such as Zee News, Aaj Tak, Times Now and Network18, to show up any single instance, act or crime as a “conspiracy of the Muslim community.” All they need to do is add the epithet ‘#Jihad’. As soon as some piece of news is reported, the pattern swiftly emerges. Political figures, elected representatives feed on such “news” panel discussions generated by an identifiable set of electronic media channels. Repeat offenders among news anchors are Sudhir Chaudhary, Arnab Goswami, Deepak Chaurasia, Amish Devgan, Anjana Om Kashyap and Rohit Sardana. They serve the perennial need of the regime in power to stigmatise and target one section of Indians, Muslims reducing their existence to a cornered lot, suffering physical and mental indignity and harm, always threatened by physical violence.

Was adding the epithet, “jihad” to this issue at all warranted?

The question Indian media needs to ask itself, and this is a serious professional challenge, is whether this level of unprofessional media conduct befits these electronic media outlets. Be it print media where tested principles laid down by the Press Council of India apply or broadcast and digital media, where guidelines of the News Broadcasting and Digital Statutory Authority (NBDSA) apply, each and all of these instances violate time-tested provisions. This is not to mention provisions of Indian criminal law, weak as they be in their application towards hate-driven inciteful speech and utterances. In the global world too, every standard known has been and continues to be breached with impunity lending voice to the argument made since 2020 that #GenocideJournalism is what is at play, cynically and systemically in India today.

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Chaudhary also made claims that when these mazaars were demolished with bulldozers and inspected, it was found that the graves did not have any human remains in them. This means that there is a grave but there are no human remains. However, no official source has been cited for the same.

He also points towards the growth in Muslim population in Uttarakhand comparing 2001 figures to 2023 (estimated figures). He skips to mention that these were estimated figures in a bid to depict falsely the large delta in population.  Further, he encouraged all viewers to tweet using the term #MazaarJihad which encouraged many users to tweet hateful comments about the same.

“Any journalist following the principles laid down by the NBDSA and abiding by principles guided by journalistic ethics would have just presented the news factually and dispassionately, that a state government report has claimed that illegal mazaars were “found in Uttarakhand”. Instead, Sudhir Chaudhary, who’s past record shows, and who is one of the main propagators of such a Stigma filled, Anti-Muslim narrative in the commercial electronic media, this time goes several stages further and, in fact virtually exhorts his viewers to “look around for such Mazaars and report them to the police,” the complaint states.

CJP has also written that the claims made by Chaudhary have been debunked by an official report by the forest department which stated that there are more illegal temples in forest areas than illegal mazaars which takes away completely the basis on which the show was aired.

The entire complaint may be read here:

Download PDF

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Citizens for Justice and Peace wrote to Aaj Tak (India Today Group) raising concerns over their show “Black and White” hosted by Sudhir Chaudhary. On the show, Chaudhary was conducting an “analysis” of alleged illegal mazaars (Islamic shrines) in Uttarakhand.

Chaudhary, once again, came up with an inventive term with the infamously perilous ‘jihad’ suffix and called it “Mazaar Jihad”. Even though the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has repeatedly reprimanded and warned news broadcasters against using such derogatory terms and indulging in such deleterious name calling, channels like Aaj Tak, especially Sudhir Chaudhary seems to be unaffected by the same.

Pointing out the same, CJP in its complaint, has underscored certain extracts from the show that are contentious.

A mazaar is a shrine which usually belongs to some religious leader or sufi saint. In the show, Chaudhary claims that there are multiple mazaars in Uttarakhand where the name of the person buried there is the same across locations. He questions how one person can have shrines in different places.

Further, he claims that the mazaars after being demolished were examined and it was found that there are no human remains in the grave, which means that these were fake shrines, intended to encroach upon government land so that people from Muslim community can start living on that encroached land. He made these wild claims without giving any source for such a claim or any solid basis.

He also encouraged people to look around them and if they see any mazaar, ask the police or local MLA to have it examined to ensure that it is not a fake mazaar. He also kept encouraging his viewers throughout the show, to tweet using the hashtag #MazaarJihad.

After he encouraged his viewers to tweet with #MazzarJihad it was found that the twitter social media platform was rife with such tweets which were denigrating towards the Muslim community. This indicates that the following that Chaudhary has is vast and so is his influence.

The complaint states, “Any journalist following the principles laid down by the NBDSA and going by journalistic ethics would have just presented the news as whereby a government report has claimed that illegal mazaars were found in Uttarakhand and presenting what has been found or alleged. However, Sudhir Chaudhary is one of the main propagators of the Anti-Muslim narrative and while he claims to be neutral by expressly stating so, his so-called neutrality is laid bare when he sues such terms like “Mazaar Jihad” and asks people to look around them for mazaars and report them to the police to verify if they are real.”

The complaint may be read here:

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On March 30, 2023, the festival of Ram Navami was being celebrated all over India, a festival that marks the celebration of Lord Ram’s birthday. In the recent times, this the celebration of this festival has created a sense of fear in the minds of most, with the extremist Hindutva outfits appropriating what were, essentially calm and quiet community celebrations, with their members also resorting to violence and belittling provocative tactics. Such incidents peaked after several years in 2022. Again this year, the festival of Ram Navami –again coinciding with the fasting month of Ramzan—was chosen by these outfits to raise tensions especially in states that are poll bound soon. As predicted, several incidents of violence were reported from many states in India, especially from the states of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar and Delhi. It is crucial to note here that while there was a token alert raised by the authorities, processions –except in Jahangirpuri Delhi where permission was formally refused but was flouted by organisers anyway–and rallies were given permission to be be held, never mind the statutory law and guidelines to restrict their routes. The police were reportedly merely told to be prepared for any untoward happenings.

Despite time-tested institutional warnings not to allow routes in either crowded or diversely populated areas, laws that restrict the flaunting of weapons and arms, such processions today enjoy a special impunity.

Read The contentious route, a common factor in inciting violence during religious processions in India

Many incidents of stone pelting, violence, offensive hate speeches near mosques, attacks, and vandalism were reported, which was unsurprising, but what was seriously troubling was how these incidents were reported by sections of the media. In recent times, several electronic media channels, especially those in the Hindi language, but many in English too, have been presenting news in a way that is selective and p[artisan, furthering a political agenda of those in power. One was is to conduct “debates” and present a communally sensitive news in a way that it villianises the minority religious communities and portrays the majority Hindu community as a victim!

One such recent example is how Aaj Tak news channel has presented the incidents of violence that took place in various states and regions on Ram Navami. Aaj Tak is the Hindi language channel of the India Today group.

The live broadcast of the news reported by Aaj Tak has been analysed here.

The clips starts with reporting of the incident that took place in Howrah of West Bengal. In Howrah, widely reported incidents on other mainstream media show eyewitnesses record that the trouble started from a procession in Shivpur and by noon there was extreme tension in the area and frequent bombings began. Meanwhile, it started raining. Amidst this, shops were vandalised in various places along with some cars. There were reports of arson, as well. A large police force and RAF (Rapid Action Force) were deployed in the area to control the situation. 

Coverage of West Bengal

In their said broadcast by Aaj Tak News, however, the news about this sequence of events that unraveled at Howrah is presented in an entirely different manner. The reporter in the news said, (without naming a specific religious community), that a Ram Navami procession was being taken out in the area and it is being alleged by the people participating in the procession themselves that stones suddenly started being thrown at them. Images of burning cars and the vandalism that followed were also being shown.

This news clip proceeded with the anchor reporting incidents of violence that were reported from other areas of West Bengal. It is essential to note here, that while reporting these incidents, the words “clash between the two communities” were used again and again, subtly implying that both the Hindu and Muslim community were attacking each other, even while the background clips were showing people, holding aloft the saffron flag, raising offensive slogans, breaking cordons set by police and generally creating chaos. In one such clip, the police can also be seen stopping one youth holding wearing a saffron scarf and waving the saffron flags from creating any chaos. (This is just a description of what is said and showed in the news clipping of Aaj Tak)

Another reporter, reporting from the site of the violence, mentions that while the police has not given any statement, it is being alleged by the processionists that they were the ones that were attacked with stones. Given the on-ground situation, with such processionists backed by powerful outfits taking the law into their own hands in terms of both routes to be followed by the procession and behavior of the processionists, this amounts to reporting based on just one side or version which is counter to all norms of fair reportage. Misleading alerts on the ticker, which subtly implied that stones were pelted at the yatra, were also continually displayed showed even though the channel had no confirmation or official version of what conspired at the site of violence. Throughout this segment, a selective and one sided perspective has been presented and highlighted. It became clear after this segment, that even while presenting a news that was communally charged, the reporters presented the same in a way that portrayed the Muslims community as the ones who started the violence and are responsible for it.

After this segment, the statement of West Bengal’s Chief Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, was shown where she was heard saying that “a BJP goon had said that he will be armed during the Shobha Yatra, and while she has allowed for the Yatra to take place, if any violence happens in a Muslim dominated area, there will be a strict investigation.”

This segment is followed by the anchor quoting senior BJP leaders and top brass who blame the chief minister herself for the violence that took place in West Bengal. A statement given by Amit Malviya, BJP Leader (head of the IT Cell), is then telecast where he can be heard blaming Mamata Banerjee for failing as a CM. he further says that “on the day that ten thousand rallies were being taken out in West Bengal on the occasion of Ram Navami, the CM hurt the sentiments of the Hindus by sitting on a protest”.

The next statement is that of MP Giriraj Singh, a hate offender in the past. He can be heard saying on air that, “Mamata Banerjee has spread a red carpet for Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. Violence on Ram Navami has taken place last year too, but this year it took place under the protection of Mamata Banerjee. And she should not forget, that every time Shivaji rises and takes a sword in his hand, Aurangzeb’s are destroyed.” This is on national commercially television where through the use of tested allegory this BJP leader threatens the Muslim community. The said statement, unchecked and unfiltered, without any counter or rebuttal is shown by the media channel without a second thought.

Through this news segment that telecast the violence that took place on Ram Navami in West Bengal on March 30, Aaj Tak portrayed the said incident in a way that influenced its audience to further the ruling BJP’s propaganda paradigm: that Mamata Banerjee sided (again) with the Muslim community, and is therefore anti-Hindu. Both the BJP leaders claimed that Mamata Banerjee is the “mastermind” behind the violence that erupted in West Bengal, and without even thinking twice, the baseless allegations made by them were shown on national television by the channel. Not once in this bit of reportage has the channel even attempted to portray the incident dispassionately. This style of reportage by Aaj Tak, far from being sober and fact based actually serves the partisan purpose of pushing its audience towards a pre-determined conclusion that suggests that members from the Muslim community were the ones that attacked the procession.

Later, in another segment, a different reporter of Aaj Tak also covered the issue of Shobha Yatras and violence that erupted on Ram Navami in West Bengal. For this, the reporter said “But this time on Ram Navami, the real political riot took place in West Bengal. In Malda, on the one hand, an attempt was made to show the glow of weapons in the Ram Navami procession taken out by the people of Hindu-Muslim community, while in Manikpur, different types of weapons were displayed. There was no unrest due to the display of weapons in the procession, but after Mamata Banerjee made a statement before Ram Navami, political gimmicks started on the festival.”

After this, the speech given by Mamata Banerjee, CM of West Bengal, which was shown previously too, was shown again. After this, the reported said that it was after this statement by Mamata Banerjee that the BJP started proving Mamata Banerjee not only anti-Ram but also anti-Hindu. A highly contentious, derogatory and islamophobic statement made by Rahul Sinha, BJP Leader, was then shown, where he was heard saying that “Pata nahi wo kaun si Mamata hain. Hijaab pehenane wali. Roja rakhne wali Mamata, Pata nahi wo Hindu hain ya nahi. (I do not know which Mamata she is, the hijab wearing Mamata or the one who follows the Muslim fasting during Ramamdan. I do not even know if she is a Hindu or not)”. Showing this statement, which is at the very least anti-Muslim and anti-women, against an elected woman leader of the country demonstrates the type of politics that the Aaj Tak channel is engaging in and known to inhibit and support.

The reporter further said that the BJP has alleged that instead of taking a holiday and celebrating festivals like Ram Navami, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sat on a sit-in to appease Muslims. Another statement by a BJP leader, Dilip Ghosh was shown, which was anti- Muslim and encouraged the communally divisive ideology being promoted in our country. The BJP leader had said “The festival of Ram Navami is being celebrated all over the country including Bengal. Mamata Banerjee has declared a holiday on Eid but did not keep Ram Navami holiday. On the contrary, they are protesting on Ram Navami.”

During this whole segment, not once did the reporter state that demonstration or brandishing of weapons in a rally or procession was criminal act in India. Instead of criticizing the said act, the reported suddenly deemed the rally of Ram Navami to be a “Hindu-Muslim” community rally, and said that even though the act of brandishing weapons was committed, no violence took place. Ironically, instead of blaming the acts committed by the members of the rally, the reporter blamed Mamata Banerjee’s statement for being the main reason behind the violence.

Coverage of other States

 The news then shows videos and clips of violence that took place in Vadodara, Gujarat. The anchor stated that stones were pelted at the procession, even as the police were lathi charging the ones who were throwing the stones. A clip is then shown where people can be seen running and the police can be seen beating people. It was also stated during the clipping that once the yatra had reached a mosque, people started pelting stones at the procession. Again, it was subtly implied that the Muslim community was the one that pelted stones at the yatra as soon as it reached the mosque area.

The news segment then moves to reporting the violence that erupted in Hyderabad and the hate speech given by the suspended BJP MLA T. Raja. Before the speech by T. Raja Singh is shown, the anchor can be heard saying that “Singh has again used disputed language and has subtly targeted the Muslim community”. A video clip of the speech given by T. Raja is shown, where he can be seen riding an elephant, and making demands for “Akhand Hindu Rashtra” (Undivided Hindu nation.).

Speaking at a Ram Navami Shobha Yatra, Singh added that a separate ‘Hindu Rashtra’ constitution is being prepared and that the country will only allow “hum do humare do” kind of people to vote, not those who are ‘hum paanch, humare pachas’. This statement of his was made to encourage the right-wing agenda and stereotype that Muslim men have more than one wife, and give birth to more than two children.

He also said the capital of this Hindu Rashtra would be Kashi, Mathura or Ayodhya, and not Delhi.

“Our sadhu-sants have already started planning on how our Hindu Rashtra will be, a separate constitution is also being prepared…and our capital will not be Delhi, it will be Kashi, Mathura or Ayodhya. I am not saying this, sadhu-sants are saying this,” he added.

 Continuing with his diatribe, Singh then said, “There is a 100-crore Hindu population in India and despite such a majority. Despite such a majority, India is not being declared as an Akhand Hindu Rashtra. There are more than 50 Islamic nations in the world today, more than 150 Christian-majority nations. I want to ask those opposing the idea, ‘why can’t India be declared a Hindu Rashtra? Every part (state or region) that split from India became an Islamic nation’,” he said as the crowd cheered him on.

Singh also said that states such as Kerala and West Bengal, where non-BJP parties are in power, are on the verge of becoming “Islamic countries”.

He also released a song, ‘Jail ka taala toot gaya, baap tumhara chhoot gaya (Jail locks broke open, letting your leader out)’. The song also talks about his demand for a Hindu nation.

Based on multiple media reports, Singh was also seen asking the driver to stop the vehicle when the yatra reached a mosque in the old city, and talking about how his elder son would take forward his legacy of fighting for Hindutva. As reported by India Today, Afzalgunj Police has booked Singh under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case was filed based on a complaint filed by SI J Veera Babu from Afzalgunj Police Station, who stated that he was deputed in the SA Bazar area for maintaining the law and order situation in the area in wake of the suspended BJP MLA’s address at the Ram Navami rally, Indian Today reported.

The T. Raja Singh segment lasted for a little more over one minute, most of which was covered by the hate speech made by him. As soon as the speech finished, the anchor moved on to reporting other incidents of violence. Not even once did the anchor questioned Singh’s anti-Muslim diatribe, or brought in any critical perspective, like they did with Mamata Banerjee’s speech. In addition to this, the anchor also failed to highlight that Singh is a serial hate speaker, who is facing multiple criminal charges for giving inciteful and anti-Muslim hate speeches. If the anchor, and the channel, thought that it was justified to showcase opinions blaming Mamata Banerjee for the violence that took place in West Bengal, why was the same not done in T. Raja’s controversial and provocative speech?

In the month of March itself, Singh had spoken at two big events and made speeches targeting the Muslim community. On March 10, addressing a gathering at Ahmednagar’s Shrirampur, he had said that if any member of the minority community was found involved in ‘love jihad’ he would cut them into pieces. “I want to tell the ‘landyas’ (anti-Muslim slur) involved in ‘love jihad’ that they are already cut in half (circumcised) and we will cut them in whole.” At the same rally, he insisted that Hindus and Muslims could never be brothers. “Chhatrapati Shivaji and Aurangzeb were not brothers, so weren’t Veer Maharana Pratap and Akbar.”

Singh continued his rhetoric nine days later in Aurangabad when he called for attacks on those found promoting ‘love jihad’. “Want to stop ‘love jihad’, want to shoot them… take your team whenever you come to know about them. First, request the administration for help and if they do not help then complete the work on those who are already cut in half (circumcised),” he had said at the March 19 rally. It was reported that pursuant to his speech, violence had also erupted. But, the anchor, while showing the speech made by Singh on Ram Navami, conveniently forgot to bring all these facts to the notice of its viewers.

The anchor then goes on to report the violence that erupted in Mathura, where a Hindu individual has waved a saffron flag near a mosque, in Lucknow at a University where the ABVP had taken out a rally and in the Malwani area of Mumbai. With regards to the incident that took place in Malwani, the anchor stated that the issue was over the volume of the DJ that was being played and then the stone pelting started. It is important to note here that had this issue been about the volume of Azaan, the whole narrative would have been very different from how it is being portrayed here. It is crucial to remind everyone that this is the same channel that had, in April 2022, dedicated a full segment on the restrictions put on loudspeakers used for Azaan by various nations. In the said segment, the reporter had put forth issues related to noise pollution that have led to ban on Azaan in Indonesia. Another report was also done by Aaj Tak during the same show wherein the discussion on the history of usage of loudspeakers for Azaan was done.

 During these segments, derogatory and inciteful tickers where also run, which are as follows:

Thus, for a channel that does such deep research into the usage of loudspeakers for Azaan, it was rather disappointing that no second thoughts were given to the usage of DJs for playing derogatory songs during rallies. It was also surprising, that for a channel that did a whole segment of how loudpspeakers for Azaan can hurt the environment as well as the religious sentiments of other people, did not seem to connect the dots when it came to usage of DJs.

With this, the news segment over the violence that erupted on Ram Navami came to an end. The video can be viewed here: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1rmxPkOYLwLJN?t=5m8s

This aforementioned report by Aaj Tak is just an example of how sections of the electronic media are constantly reports “communal clashes”, even when what is on hand is not a case of a “clash”. Aaj Tak, in its reporting, did not once even offer the unbiased possibility that members of the saffron scarf clad and flag bearing mob and could be the ones who initiated the violence, even after numerous reports suggesting this reality. In addition to this coverage of Ram Navami processions themselves, several one-sided instances of violence have been reported in last 7–10 days where Hindu supremacist-extremist groups attacked, vandalized and forcefully shut down meat shops owned by Muslims during the nine day festival of Ram Navami. Though there were no provocation and retaliation they were determined on a display of violent dominance and oppression.

The mainstream media did not once cover the sheer vulgarity displayed by some Hindu supremacist-extremist groups while taking out Ram Navami processions in trucks, motorcycles, and on foot, complete with music, DJ, and public dancing. It also omitted the narrative where deliberately provocative anti-Muslim slogans/songs/speeches were made, which resulted in stone pelting from the Muslim side.

The mainstream media has also, conveniently, forgotten to include the provocative and violent anti-Muslim speeches made by various prominent far-right leaders in the days leading up to Ram Navami, including rape threats against Muslim women, where no arrests have been made. For months, there have also been anti-Muslim campaigns targeting their businesses, right to work, food style, and even the language Urdu, because the language’s origin is thought to be in Muslim people. Anti-Muslim speeches, forced impositions of Hindu religious symbols, practices, food, etc. on the rest of India, while opposing Muslim practices and symbols, have become routine.

Hence, though not surprising since its part of a cynical media pattern followed by sections of the electronic media around the violence at Ram Navami, it was the Muslim community that ended up being blamed, along with those sections of the population that display a modicum of sobriety.

India has, in recent days, seen a steady buildup of hate speech and targeted violence, with the state insidiously looking away. A narrative is being built in the minds of the citizens that those on the receiving end of aggression and hate are the ones who demand, and even deserve, the attack.  It is necessary that these disguised attempts are seen for what they actually are.

Consistently over the past five years and more, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has filed a complaint with the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) against Aaj Tak’s shows for containing themes of communal divide throughout its narrative. In October 2022, CJP had complained against the Aaj Tak’s ‘Black and White Show’, hosted by Sudhir Chaudhary, where the issue of Muslim exclusion from Garba pandals was talked upon and the host did not try to mask his bias in any manner, manipulated facts and actively participating in the communal diatribe. Prior to this, in January 2020, the NBDSA had even acted on CJP’s complaint against hateful content of Aaj Tak in connection with news coverage of the Ayodhya verdict and asked the channel to take down the debate episode in question from its social media platforms.

Related:

Hate Watch: CJP’s complaint against Aaj Tak continues 

AAJ Tak airs inflammatory debate, posts hateful content on Twitter

The contentious route, a common factor in inciting violence during religious processions in India

Hindutva’s role in riots and official complicity

What was CJP’s PIL seeking directions for implementation of law for regulation of religious processions all about?

Ram Navami: West Bengal administration on alert as 2000 celebrations planned

Police to closely monitor Ram Navami processions in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Exaggerated or ominous, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) claims it has plans for 1500-2000 rallies during Ram Navami in Bengal

Violence over Ram Navami procession in Bengal’s Howrah, state a particular target

Ram Navami: West Bengal administration on alert as 2000 celebrations planned

The post Ram Navami violence by Aaj Tak calls into question the lopsided portrayal of communally sensitive news appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has filed a complaint with the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) against Aaj Tak’s ‘Black and White Show’ for containing themes of communal divide throughout its narrative. The host, Sudhir Chaudhary, did not try to mask his bias in any manner, manipulated facts and actively participating in the communal diatribe. The organisation has objected to the tone, tenor and choice of words spoken as well as displayed on the screen during the show. Since, this isin direct violation of the code of ethics and broadcasting as laid down by the NBDSA, the organization has escalated the same and filed a complaint.

The show was flagged off by the host with a communally polarising question: Muslim yuvaon ka garba ke pandolon meijaane ka makshad akhir hai kya? (What is the reason for Muslim youth to go to garba pandals?) CJP has mentioned in its letter that the show projects its prejudice against Islam and its followers by questioning why Muslims should take interest in participating in a festival that is celebrated by Hindus.

CJP had first shared our concerns with the Aaj Tak channel as per procedure on October 6, 2022. But after not receiving any kind of a response from the channel till October 20, 2022, we approached the NBDSA.

Some extracts from the show are mainly comments made by Chaudhary, the host of the show, which clearly make his communal narrative visible and obvious, threatening to mar, even destroy the secular fabric of the country. Examples of these are:

…breaking news to aapne bahut suni hogi, lekin aaj hum aapkeliye ek breaking vishleshan karenge. us khabar ka vishleshankarenge ji par hamare desh mein aaj kal bahut bahas ho rahihai. (You must have heard a lot of breaking news, but today we will do a breaking analysis for you. We will analyze that news, but there is a lot of debate in our country these days.)

…aur vah khabar hai garba karyakramon mein muslim yuvakonke upar lagayi gayi rok.(And that news is the ban imposed on Muslim youths in garba programs)

The brazen remarks that have been made by Sudhir Chaudhary directly fall with offensive and communal lines, which goes against the ethics of journalism and principles of self- regulation, including the code laid down by the NBDSA. The host’s specific questions like Inn garba pandalo mei muslim ladke hi kyu jaa rahe hai? Muslim ladkiyan kyu nahi, are completely unwarranted and baseless. Does the host even know how many Muslim girls are involved in participation/playing garba in these pandals? Is there any data to backup such claims being made on national television? As the anchor of show on a news channel, that is supposed to have a neutral and unbiased theme, the host did not even attempt to have any non-communal theme on the show.

The complaint also brings forward a gross violation on part of Aaj Tak, wherein attempts have been made to pitch the Hindu community against the Muslim community by bringing up issues of conflict during the show. The host has also presented“data” that claimed that the channel’s team went to the pandalsand found that Muslim boys are befriending Hindu girls.Throughout the show, the host was keen on leading the debate with her own set of ideologies and biases, and use their reach to influence the audience.

The complaint can be read here.

Related:

CJP calls out Times Now for conducting a media trial against Teesta Setalvad

CJP Impact: NBDSA directs News18 to take down video of show about bombs hurled at WB school

CJP Impact: NBDSA directs Zee News to take down video of communal show on Population Control

CJP writes to News18 against “80 vs 20” debate show’s communal content

CJP moves NBDSA against News18’s “80 vs. 20” diatribe

The post CJP has filed a complaint in the NBDSA urging action against the divisive narrative in Sudhir Chaudhary’s show on Aaj Tak appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has written to the India Today Group after its channel, Aaj Tak aired a show on September 30, 2022 that had themes of communal divide throughout its narrative and did not try to mask this in any manner, with the host Sudhir Chaudhary manipulating facts and actively participating in the communal diatribe. The organization has objected to the tone, tenor and choice of words spoken as well as displayed on the screen during the show. These are in direct violation of the code of ethics and broadcasting as laid down by the News Broadcasting Statutory Digital Authority (NBDSA).

The show was flagged off by the host with a communally polarising question: Muslim yuvaon ka garba ke pandolon mei jaane ka makshad akhir hai kya? (What is the reason for Muslim youth to go to garba pandals?) CJP has mentioned in its letter that the show projects its prejudice against Islam and its followers by questioning why Muslims should take interest in participating in a festival that is celebrated by Hindus.

Some extracts from the show are mainly comments made by Chaudhary, the host of the show, which clearly make his communal narrative visible and obvious, threatening to mar, even destroy the secular fabric of the country. Examples of these are:

…breaking news to aapne bahut suni hogi, lekin aaj hum aapke liye ek breaking vishleshan karenge. us khabar ka vishleshan karenge ji par hamare desh mein aaj kal bahut bahas ho rahi hai. (You must have heard a lot of breaking news, but today we will do a breaking analysis for you. We will analyze that news, but there is a lot of debate in our country these days.)

…aur vah khabar hai garba karyakramon mein muslim yuvakon ke upar lagayi gayi rok.(And that news is the ban imposed on Muslim youths in garba programs)

The brazen remarks that have been made by Sudhir Chaudhary directly fall along communal lines, which goes against the ethics of journalism and principles of self- regulation, including the code laid down by the NBDSA. The host’s specific questions like Inn garba pandalo mei muslim ladke hi kyu jaa rahe hai? Muslim ladkiyan kyu nahi, are completely unwarranted and baseless. Does the host even know how many Muslim girls are involved in participation/playing garba in these pandals? Is there any data to backup such claims being made on national television? As the anchor of show on a news channel, that is supposed to have a neutral and unbiased theme, the host did not even attempt to have any non-communal theme on the show.

This is not the first time that CJP has filed a complaint against the islamophobic and communal comments made by Sudhir Chaudhary. In March, 2020,  Zee News aired a programme hosted by Mr. Sudhir Chaudhary called “DNA: Jammu मेंज़मीनके ‘इस्लामीकरण’ का DNA टेस्ट” (DNA test of Islamic conversion of land in Jammu). In the program, the host, Mr. Sudhir Chaudhary, showed his viewers a Jihad diagram propagating various types of Jihad in the country categorising them as soft jihad and hard jihad. CJP had first filed a complaint with the channel, and then moved the NBDSA against the same.

The complaint filed against the Black and White show highlights that the show and comments made thereunder violates the many guidelines issued by the News Broadcasting Digital and Standards Authority (NBDSA) as also its Code of Ethics. In an event there is no satisfactory response from the India Today Group, CJP will be compelled to submit a complaint to the NBDSA.

The complaint may be read here:

Related:

Another Victory for CJP! NBSA rules in CJP’s favour in complaint against Aaj Tak
Hate Watch: CJP’s complaint against Aaj Tak continues 
NBSA acts on CJP’s complaint against Zee News report on ‘Zameen Jihad’
CJP calls out Times Now host’s bias towards BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma
CJP calls out Times Now for conducting a media trial against Teesta Setalvad

The post CJP files complaint against Sudhir Chaudhary’s show on Aaj Tak for its communal narrative appeared first on SabrangIndia.