Chopra has also posted three photos in the said social media post, where he can be seen casually walking and feeding cows along with the former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

His post on X can be viewed here:

अयोध्या दौरे के दौरान @b_bhushansharan के साथ उनकी गौशाला गया। pic.twitter.com/IeswK6Y8BV

— Aman Chopra (@AmanChopra_) January 17, 2024

This comes after multiple wrestlers in December had returned their awards in protest to a close aid of Singh, namely Sanjay Singh, being appointed as the president of the WFI. Bajrang Punia had returned his Padma Shri award and Vinesh Phogat had also returned her Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Award. Both of these, who had led the Wrestlers protest against Singh since January 2023 and shed their light on the exploitative culture prevailing at the WFI had also written separate open letters addressed to PM Modi expressing their anguish and disappointment. Later, Virender Singh Yadav had also supported the Wrestlers in this movement, and had returned Padma Shri award.

It is crucial to note that Sakshi Malik, who was also the main force behind the Wrestlers protest had announced at a conference that she will be retiring from wrestling.

It is also pertinent to highlight here that the sexual harassment and sexual abuse case against Singh is ongoing in the Delhi court and is at the stage of framing of charges. Arguments against Singh by the Delhi Police have come to a conclusion and the counsel for the complainants, the six wrestlers who have raised the allegations against Singh, will be beginning on January 20.

In the arguments submitted by the Delhi police through Additional public prosecutor (APP) Atul Srivastava that Singh had “outraged the modesty” of the women wrestlers who filed harassment charges against him at every opportunity he got. The APP also told the court that the former WFI chief “knew what he was doing” and his intention was to outrage the modesty of the wrestlers, which he also tried to cover up. It was further submitted that Singh justified that his acts were carried out in a father-like capacity while reacting to the victims’ statement that Bhushan used to touch their breast on the pretext of checking their breathing capacity.

Related:

Wrestler Sakshi Malik quits wrestling as close aid of sexual harassment accused Brij Bhushan gets elected as president

Sexual harassment, stalking and molestation accused Brij Bhushan granted two day interim bail by Delhi Court

Delhi Police on Brij Bhushan sexual harassment case: “Liable to be prosecuted and punished for sexual harassment, molestation and stalking”

The post Journalist Aman Chopra casually visits a gaushala with sexual harassment accused Brij Bhushan Singh appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The complaint argued that the programme attempted to link protesting Muslim girl-students and their supporters with a terrorist organization. The anchor and the panelists promoted dangerous stereotypes against the Muslim community.  

On October 26, Justice Sikri passed a speaking order directing that:

• The programme violated principles related to impartiality, neutrality, fairness, good taste and decency under the Specific Guidelines Covering Reportage, apart from the Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards. 

• The anchor failed to abide by Bombay HC’s Nitesh Navalakah case guidelines and SC’s guidelines on the role of a news anchor in a panel discussion to maintain balance, prevent the discussion from drifting, and muting panelists who fly off the tangent. 

• NBDSA advised News 18 to train Aman Chopra on how to conduct debates on sensitive matters.

• Considering the repeat nature of violations, NBDSA imposed a fine of Rs.50,000 on the channel.

• NBDSA warned News 18 India stating that if it commits future violations, it may summon Aman Chopra before the NBDSA committee.

• NBDSA ordered the channel to delete the programme from all digital spaces within 7 days.

• The programme is available here  

Indrajeet argued the case before NBDSA on September 30, 2022 and brought to its attention that News 18 India and its employee, Aman Chopra, are repeat offenders who routinely prompte anti-Muslim hate speech. I urged NBDSA to take stringent and effective measures against News 18 India in order to put an end to this severely harmful practice. My written complaint and submissions are available in the attached document (Pages 2-5). 

This complainant has previously argued several cases before the NBDSA such as misinformation against the Farmer’s protest, media trial of Umar Khalid, anti-Muslim UP Population Control programme, transphobic reports by Telugu broadcasters, insensitive reporting on the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, and many more.

The full order is available here, pages 7-8.

Additionally, the attachment includes NBDSA’s decision in another case (pages 15-16) that Indrajeet also filed against News 18 for it’s anti-Muslim coverage of the Jahangirpuri demolition drive in April 2022, also hosted by Aman Chopra. NBDSA found the reportage to be in violation of its Code of Ethics and expressed strong disapproval against the programme. It ordered the removal of the recording from all digital spaces. 

Related:

NBDSA acts on CJP’s complaint, directs News18 to take down fake news video about bombing in WB school

The post NBDSA fines News18 50,000 for repeat hate violations by anchor Aman Chopra appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) hassent a notice to News18 India, complaining over the inflammatory and contentious contents of its debate show “Desh Nahin Jhukne Denge Aman Chopra केसाथ” aired on October 4, 2022 hosted by Aman Chopra. This is not the first instance where CJP has raised concerns about a show hosted by Chopra. In January this year, CJP had complained against the show where as a pre cursor to UP elections, Hindu voters were pitched against Muslim voters in a bid to create a communal divide. Apart from Indian law, the contents of the show violate the code of ethics of the News Broadcasting Digital & Statutory Authority (NBDSA).

The complaint outlines how, through the entire “debate”, the members of the panel brought into question not just the various principles of Islam as a religion but also mocked speakers belonging to the Muslim community by asking them to hail Hindus gods on national television.

The show started with the host visibly cheering the Gujarat Police for beating men publicly with a stick for allegedly having pelted stones at a garba (festive dance) event. The host says, “Aapko Gujarat Police ka Dandiya dikhate hai (We will show you “Dandiya”  played by Gujarat Police)”. Then he goes on to cheer them more as the beatings continue and the victims, visibly pained and begging for mercy saying “please forgive us”. He was clearly encouraging such brute and unlawful acts. An inquiry has now been set up by Gujarat Police against the two policemen seen indulging in the beatings.

The complaint points out certain problematic tickers that kept running throughout the show repeatedly:

“hamare garba me tumhara kya kaam hai” (What have you got to do with our Garba)
“Garba par pattharbaji – apradh ya jihad? (Garba and stone pelting – Crime or Jihad?)

“garba me zyadatar Muslim Naam badalkar kyu aate hai (Why do so many Muslims change their identity to play garba)”

“Muslim ilaakon me aayojan kyu nahi (Why is [garba] not organized in Muslim localities)

“Toh Muslim betiya shamil kyu nahi hoti (why do muslim girls not participate [in garba]

“Mazhab chipayenge ab patthar bhi barsayenge? (Hiding their religion, now pelting stones too?)

The complaint further states, “There is no iota  of doubt that the intention of the host was to incite Hindus against the Muslim by questioning why Muslims should get involved in garba celebrations, by justifying the unlawful police action of flogging Muslim men publicly, by picking one or two incidents to show that Muslims are acting against Hindus by stone pelting or by entering garba celebrations to eve tease Hindu girls, by posing baseless questions like why Muslim girls do not celebrate garba.”

News18 India has 14.9 million subscribers on YouTube and the channel has a reach though national television as well. The video itself has more than 3 lakh views on Youtube alone with more than 1,000 people having commented on the show with their versions of equally inciteful messages in the comment section on Youtube.

The complaint highlights that the show violates the many guidelines issued by the News Broadcasting Digital and Standards Authority (NBDSA) as also its Code of Ethics.

The complaint may be read here:

Related:

Cjp Moves Nbdsa Against Times Now’s Virtual Media Trial Of 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

The post CJP serves a notice to News18 over debate show justifying flogging of Muslim men by Gujarat Police appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Rajasthan High Court granted interim protection from arrest to News 18 anchor Aman Chopra on May 7, 2022 in two out of three FIRs filed against his show that allegedly caused “communal disharmony”.

On April 22, Chopra in his show ‘Desh Jhukne Nahi Denge’ accused the Rajasthan police of destroying temples in Alwar to avenge the demolition drive in Jahangirpuri, Delhi. As per the court order, the discussion was also posted on Chopra’s Twitter account. The news piece is said to have caused communal disharmony and riots in the town on April 22.

Chopra said in his show, “It is such a big coincidence that two days after a bulldozer was used to demolish the gate of a mosque in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, three temples were demolished in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. One of the temples is 300 years old. Is this a mere coincidence or are these events interconnected? Is this revenge for Jahangirpuri?”

Consequently, Alt News fact-checked the temples in question to have been demolished days before the Jahangirpuri incident. As such, the fact-checking website concluded that the channel misled the people.

Accordingly, three FIRs were lodged against Chopra in Dungarpur, Alwar and Bundi. However, on May 7, senior advocate V.R. Bajwa appealed that Chopra not be arrested for the latter orders.

“The criminal investigation of subsequent two FIRs must not be allowed to proceed with as lodged maliciously just to harass the petitioner. Reliance has been placed on the judgment of the Supreme Court in T.T. Antony Vs. State of Kerala & Ors. reported in (2001) 6 Supreme Court Cases 181, Babu Bhai Vs. State of Gujarat & Ors. reported in (2010) 12 SCC 254 and Arnab Ranjan Goswami Vs. Union of India & Ors. reported in (2020) 14 SCC 12,” said the order.

Still, the Rajasthan police went to Chopra’s house in Noida on the same day of the order, based on the Dungarpur FIR. The journalist was absconding. The following day, the police sent out a team to arrest Chopra.

According to Scroll, the Uttar Pradesh police did not cooperate with its Rajasthan counterpart in apprehending the accused. Superintendent of Police Sudhir Joshi told PTI that this was Rajasthan police’s second attempt to arrest Chopra. However, both times, a UP sub-inspector stalled officers on the pretext of details. Speaking to the Scroll, the UP police refuted this claim.

Related:

Delhi: Are the ongoing municipal demolition drives a move to frighten people?

Shaheen Bagh demolition drive halted

Delhi: ‘Rohingya Bangladeshi’ taunts putting other Muslim dominated areas on the buldozer map?

Evolution of Bulldozer Injustice

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