UPSC Jihad | SabrangIndia

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

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 04:15:50 +0000

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has cautioned Sudarshan TV against the contents of its infamous ‘UPSC Jihad’ show and ordered that in case of any further violation stricter penal action would be taken. The Ministry has directed the channel to review the remaining episodes and moderate them so as to not violate the Programme Code, by which it is bound.

The MIB filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court about the outcome of the show cause notice issued to Sudarshan TV with regards to its ‘UPSC Jihad’ show. The Ministry stated that the proceedings culminated on November 4 and hence they have filed the outcome of the proceedings as ordered by the apex court on September 23.

The Ministry had taken cognisance of the several complaints received by it against the telecast of the show and after receiving a written statement from Sudarshan TV referred the matter to Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) on September 11. The IMC considered the written submissions as well as gave opportunity for oral hearing to Sudarshan TV. The Ministry gave another opportunity to the channel to give its response, before acting upon the recommendations of the IMC.

During one of the oral hearings, the counsel for the channel had contended that the Programme Code under the Cable TV Network Rules, 1994 is not applicable to a TV news channel. The Ministry, however affirmed that every company permitted by the government to operate a TV channel is given a permission letter in which it is mentioned that the company shall abide by the programme and Advertising Code; further Suresh Chavhanke, the Editor-in-Chief of Sudarshan News had undertaken while seeking renewal of downlinking permission that he/his channel will abide by the Programme and Advertising Codes.

The Ministry examined the four episodes in which respect the show cause notice was issued in the first place. The Ministry was of the opinion that “the channel has gone about its exposition, including its comments on the selection process, examination system of Civil Services, portray one community and the UPSC in poor light and the channel could well have avoided utterances and videos which were not in good taste or decency.”

The Ministry also concurred with the findings of the IMC that the issue of alleged terror links of Zakat Foundation and alleged source of funding is a highly disputed matter of fact which require a full investigation of evidence to adjudicate the veracity, truthfulness or falsity of the claim made in the show. The Ministry gave its decision stating, “while freedom of speech and expression is a Fundamental right, the tone and tenor of the episodes telecast do indicate that the channel has through the various utterances and audio-visual content breached the Programme Code. The Ministry finds that they are not in good taste, offensive and has likelihood of promoting communal attitudes.”

The outcome of the proceedings was that the Ministry issued “caution” to Sudarshan TV and directed that if any further violation of Programme Code is found, stricter penal action would be taken. The Ministry directed Sudarshan TV to review the content of the rest of the episodes of “Binda Bol- UPSC Jihad” and suitably moderate it so that it does not violate the Programme Code and does not offend good taste or decency, does not encourage violence or is defamatory.

Finally, the order states that it is subject to the outcome of the judgement of the Supreme Court in the case. The case is set for hearing today, November 19, for hearing before a bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud.

The affidavit may be read here.

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‘UPSC Jihad’ is prime example of virulent Islamophobia: Petitioner in Sudarshan News case

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 13:02:48 +0000

Image Courtesy:opindia.com

In the rejoinder filed by the petitioner, Firoz Iqbal, it has been stated that Sudarshan News has wilfully misrepresented that the show is an expose on the links of the Zakat Foundation while the show represents Muslims as being part of a grand conspiracy to “capture” the civil services.

The petitioner filed this rejoinder in response to the counter-affidavit filed by Sudarshan News on September 16. The petitioner points towards the many misrepresentation of facts in the show already aired between September 11 to 14, and states that the central theme of the show is underscored with imagery, such as flames, blasts and a man in a skullcap and beard, meant to reinforce the message that Muslims are terrorists.

Further, the petitioner states that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting failed to perform its statutory duty and failed to view any of the four broadcasts to ensure that the undertaking given by Sudarshan News was even followed. The petitioner states that the use of the term ‘UPSC Jihad’ reflects the antagonistic mind set against a particular community and is nothing but a prime example of virulent Islamophobia. Moreover, the Petitioner submits that the present case relates to a deliberate and malicious attempt at communalising the atmosphere.

He further states that deletion of a few graphics or references will not change the nature of object or motive of the broadcast which is a classic example of hate speech and spewing of venom. The rejoinder states that the show portrays Muslims as fifth columnists, whose loyalties do not fully lie with India and the host, Suresh Chavhanke repeatedly uses highly provocative and militaristic rhetoric to describe Muslims, and openly states that they are poised to take over the country.

The petitioner also points towards the other shows being aired on the channel, one of which aired on September 17 was in bad taste and derided the Supreme Court. The petitioner states that the counter-affidavit of the respondent side stepped the issue of hate speech in its show and fails to address the statements made by Chavhanke in the show.

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Sudarshan News cites NDTV’s ‘Hindu terror’ show, pleads for vacation of stay

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 07:18:36 +0000

Image Courtesy:livelaw.in

Sudarshan News filed another affidavit in the Supreme Court ahead of its hearing on September 21 in a petition filed against it for airing a show that is allegedly communally inflammatory and as the bench termed it at the last hearing, “insidious”.

The affidavit has been filed by the Editor-in-Chief of the channel, Suresh Chavhanke, and he has brought to the notice of the court a show that was telecasted on NDTV news channel in September 2008 titled “Hindu Terror Myth or Fact?” whereby a “Hindu saint was shown with tilak and chillam and also a trishul (one of the most sacred symbols for Hindus and associated with most revered deity of the Hindus, Lord Shiva”.

The affidavit further points to NDTV’s show of August 2010 titled “Is Saffron Terror Real?” anchored by Barkha Dutt whereby a Hindu cultural gathering was shown in saffron colour clothes.

In the affidavit, Chavhanke has also undertaken to abide and comply with the programme code and the directions of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Making these instances grounds, the affidavit pleads that the stay imposed on the broadcast of the rest of the shows in the series titled “Naukarshahi me Muslamano ki Ghuspaith ke shadyantra ka bada khulasa” (The conspiracy behind Muslim infiltration in UPSC – The Big Reveal). The show was first aired on September 11 and was aired until September 14, when the apex court imposed the injunction.

Chavhanke even defended the use of the term “UPSC Jihad” stating that since it was alleging that Zakat foundation was receiving funds from terror-linked organizations, this term was being used.

Senior Advocate appearing for Sudarshan News, at the last hearing, assured the court that a clear affidavit will be filed on stereotypes having a tendency to be perceived as hate speech.

The hearing is likely to continue today, at 2 P.M.

Background

On August 28, the apex court refused to issue an injunction on the basis of an “unverified transcript of a 49 second clip” which was the promotional video of the show titled “Bindaas Bol”. The court had still noted that expression of views derogatory to a particular community had a “divisive potential” and that the petition had raised significant issues bearing on the protection of constitutional rights.

An intervention application has also been filed by 7 retired civil servants urging the court to give an authoritative meaning to “hate speech” so that the authorities implementing it receive clarity on what speech comes within its ambit. “The interpretative task before this Hon’ble Court therefore is to distinguish between speech that is merely offensive, indecorous or in bad taste [and therefore covered by Article 19(1)(a)] and hate speech that is rightly penalised by Articles 153A & B and the other provisions pointed out above,” the plea read.

This “UPSC Jihad” series has been running since September 11 and was slated to continue until September 20. However, with the Supreme Court order restraining broadcast, September 14 happens to be the last telecast of the show.

During the hearing of September 18, the bench, comprising Justices DY Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and KM Joseph stated that the show was presented in an “inciteful manner”.

CJP’s complaint against Sudarshan News

CJP was the first organisation to act when we filed a complaint with the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) when the promotional video for the show Bindass Bol had first emerged. CJP complained against the deeply communal content of the promotional video of the show on ‘UPSC Jihad’, where the channel’s Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke alleged a conspiracy by Muslims to take over civil services in India. But NBSA forwarded our complaint to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stating that since Sudarshan News was not a part of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) the NBSA could not take action against it.

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SC restrains Sudarshan News from telecasting “UPSC Jihad” show, calls it ‘insidious’

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SC restrains Sudarshan News from telecasting “UPSC Jihad” show, calls it ‘insidious’

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 13:07:02 +0000

Image Courtesy:barandbench.com

The Supreme Court has restrained Sudarshan News from further telecasting the rest of the episodes in its “UPSC Jihad” series while observing that the program was “insidious”. The bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and KM Joseph was hearing a petition filed by Firoz Iqbal Khan against the communally inflammatory show seeking pre-telecast injunction against broadcast of the program.

Background

However, on the same day, Delhi High Court had granted stay on the broadcast of the show with directions to the Centre to make a decision in this regard. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an order on September 9 allowing the broadcast of the show and from September 11 onwards, the show called “Bindaas Bol” was telecast on Sudarshan News. The topic of the show was “Naukarshahi me Muslamano ki Ghuspaith ke shadyantra ka bada khulasa” (The conspiracy behind Muslim infiltration in UPSC – The Big Reveal).

CJP’s complaint against Sudarshan News

The court’s observations

Before arguments could begin, Justice Chadrachud commented, “An anathema on 19(1)(a) to impose censorship but at the same time human dignity has to be taken into account and some standards have to be imposed which in fact, go beyond this program”. Further, commenting on the reach of electronic media, Justice Chandrachud said, “Electronic media is as powerful as the print media because the access of electronic media is extraordinarily huge and broad and it can become a focal point for destabilising the nation by targeting particular communities.”

After going through the contents of the show, Justice Chandrachud commented, “This program was so insidious. Citizens from a particular community who go through the same examinations and get interviewed by the same panel. This also casts aspersions on the UPSC examination. How do we deal with these issues? Can this be tolerated?”

When the counsel for Sudarshan News objected to the restraining of further telecast of the show, Justice Chandrachud stated, “When you say students of Jamia are part of a conspiracy to infiltrate civil services, that is not permissible. You cannot target one community and brand them a particular manner… This is an insidious attempt to malign a community.”

“As a Supreme Court of the nation we cannot allow you to say that Muslims are infiltrating civil services. You cannot say that the journalist has absolute freedom doing this,” observed the court.

The Solicitor General’s comments

When the bench asked SG Tushar Mehta for his comments, he said, “It would be disastrous for any democracy to control the media. The right of a journalist cannot be taken away. Your Lordships have perhaps not had the chance to look at the rabid things being put forth both ways – not on the right wing, left wing of it, but the question is, can it be regulated?”

Expressing his views on how news channels on TV conduct their debates on their shows, Justice Joseph commented, “The media does not have a freedom of press unlike the American Constitution. I see many channels mute people when they’re giving their opinion and it goes against the Anchor’s views. This is so unfair… We need to have debates where others should be allowed to speak as against the anchor only”.

Justice Chandrachud, almost concurring with Justice Joseph said, “Fair comment and equivalent duty of the right to fair response. Journalists must be governed by certain principles.”

When Justice Joseph pointed out that the Program Code prohibits telecast of shows “promoting communal attitude”, SG responded saying, “there are statutory authorities to deal with the violations.” To this Justice Joseph retorted saying, ‘the damage will be irreversible’.

Justice Chandrachud even questioned SG, “After the Centre passed the order on September 9, the broadcast took place on 11,12, 13 and 14. Did anybody in the Ministry apply their mind on the broadcast which happened from 11 -14,” to which he responded that he shall seek instructions on the same.

The order

LiveLaw reported that the court observed, “At this stage, prima facie, it appears to the court that the object, intent and purpose of the program is to vilify the Muslim community with an insidious attempt to portray them as part of a conspiracy to infiltrate the civil services”.

The court further commented, “The edifice of a stable democracy society under a regime of constitutional rights and values is founded on co-existence of communities. India is a melting pot of civilizations, cultures and values”

“Any attempt to vilify a community must be viewed with great disfavour by this court which is a custodian of constitutional rights,” observed the court while ordering that Sudarshan News be restrained from telecasting the show in continuation of the shows already telecasted either under the same or a different caption.

LiveLaw reported that Justice Chandrachud, after dictating the order, orally remarked that the court was thinking to appoint a committee of five distinguished citizens who can come up with certain standards for the electronic media.

The court will next hear the case on September 17.

The complete order may be read here.

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Prime Minister is paying attention: Suresh Chavhanke on ‘UPSC_Jihad’ show

Sat, 12 Sep 2020 10:50:37 +0000

Image Courtesy:altnews.in

With friends in high places, Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke aired his controversial show ‘Bindas Bol’ alleging Muslims were ‘infiltrating’ the central services in great numbers. This is the first of the nine episode series, where he claims to bring ‘proof’ to show that the educated Muslim community was joining the civil services in ‘massive’ numbers. However, the first episode did not have any concrete evidence to back his allegations. Moreover, why is the presence of Muslims in civil services being seen as a problem in the first place? Don’t Muslims have the right to serve the country?

Instead of proof of a ‘conspiracy’, what we got was an almost breathless Chavhanke, buttoned up in a tight saffron coloured vest, seeking blessings from computer generated imagery (CGI) of those he says he reveres. He prayed to a CGI of the god Ganesh and sought blessing for the programme which he says has “the attention of the Prime Minister, the Supreme Courts, and the entire state machinery”. He also invoked a CGI of Dr BR Ambedkar, and addressed him as if he was talking to an idol and sought blessings as he was speaking on matters concerning the Constitution. Another CGI of Chatrapati Shivaji, was invoked. This is where the polite part of the show ended, in the first few minutes.

Soon enough Chavhanke began inviting his viewers, over 36,000 on Youtube at the time of writing this review, apart from reminding his detractors that though many opposed him, the show was being aired. According to Chavhanke neither the courts, nor the complaints filed to police, nor the government was able to stop him. He added that there were ‘demonstrators’ outside his studio doors even that day and to visuals of three-four men, a couple with beards and skull cap, ‘protesting’, as his crew filmed them. That the men held a sheet of paper addressing him as ‘Suresh Chauhan’, in a hurried scribble puts a question mark on the genuineness of this ‘protest’ itself. Was it staged? It was so tiny that it did not really matter. Chahvanke continued his build up to the anti-Muslim narration and the ‘massive expose’ he promised his fans. He said the maximum complaints have been made against his channel. However he is jubilant that no action has been taken against him ever.

He aired clips of politician Akbaruddin Owaisi addressing a gathering where he is seen saying that Muslims should join police and other union services. Chavhanke called Owaisi a ‘Hyderabad ka gaddar’ (traitor from Hyderabad) and a ‘n***k h***m’ (an abusive term for a disloyal person). According to Chavhanke, Owaisi should have invited condemnation from the IPS and other organisations for asking Muslims to join civil services too.

Chavhanke has promised his fans eight more episodes in his series against Muslims and said it was like “a feature film”. The plot moved on expected lines when he quickly invoked the terror organisation ISIS. The shocker was when using a crude graphic he ‘linked’ ISIS to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, via the Zakhat Foundation and Hamas, and Syed Zafar Mahmood. Bureaucrat Syed Zafar Mahmood, was once an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. And because he is Founder President, Zakat Foundation of India Chavhanke alleged he was a ‘direct/indirect link’ to ISIS and hamas.

He goes on with vile graphics, including “calculations” on a sheet of paper, scrawled in a similar manner to the ones those ‘protesters’ were holding outside his gate. These calculations and graphics were Chavhanke’s ‘proof’ of how Muslim candidates were allegedly getting ‘unfair’ advantages and support to clear the Union Public Service Commission entrance exams. He called for the interviews of the successful UPSC candidates to be banned, as he alleged it was in interviews where even those who scored well do not get through. All hinting at how Muslim candidates were successfull even here. He shows a clip of some mock interview where a ‘candidate’ is told ‘community’ plays a role in the success. No one knows where that clip is from, seems to be of some pre exam coaching class at first glance.

Of course Chavhanke invoked Jawaharlal Nehru, who he said was the “second PM of India”, because Chavhanke only recognises Subhash Chandra Bose as the “first PM of the government in exile”. According to Chavhanke his anti-Muslim aspirant show is asking ‘essential questions’ as bureacurats stay in service for 30-40 years, longer than any PM ever will. Hence the bureaucracy should be questioned, or in Chavhanke’s case, the religions of those wanting to join India’s bureaucratic service should be questioned.

His over an hour long show was aired on Friday night, with a promise of eight more episodes as soon as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Union Government permitted the broadcast. The telecast of the controversial show ‘Bindas Bol’ had been stayed by the High Court earlier. Chavhanke had shared the communal toned promotional clip before the broadcast as well asking, “How has there been a sudden rise in the number of Muslims in IAS and IPS? What is the secret behind scoring high marks in such a difficult exam? If Jihadis of Jamia become your Collectors and Chief Secretaries, what will happen then? The big reveal on the Executive being infiltrated.”

The Delhi High Court, on August 29, had directed the Centre to decide on the complaints received against the proposed show. The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting directed Sudarshan NewsTV to broadcast the programme #BindasBol by ensuring that the programme does not violate any of the programme Codes. In an order issued on Thursday, the Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry said it cannot pre-censor a programme, or stop it from being telecast. The Print had reported the order as stating, “If only, when the programme is telecast and any violation of law is found, action can be taken”. The channel in its written submission had stated before the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that its show was “not violative of the law” and added that if at all the programme was found to be violative, action as per law could be taken.

However, Chavhanke’s offensive against Indian Muslims has already violated the Cable Television Networks Rules at multiple points. Some of those listed in the Programme Code are:

Offends against good taste or decency
Contains attack on religions or communities or visuals or words contemptuous of religious groups or which promote communal attitudes
Contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths
Is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promote-anti-national attitudes;
Contains anything affecting the integrity of the Nation;
Criticises, maligns or slanders any individual in person or certain groups, segments of social, public and moral life of the country
Contains visuals or words which reflect a slandering, ironical and snobbish attitude in the portrayal of certain ethnic, linguistic and regional groups

The entire list can be accessed here:
https://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/CableTelevisionNetworksRules1994.pdf

Chavhanke has delivered what he advertised; a show for his fans, his version of an alleged “conspiracy to infiltrate the civil service by Muslims”. Now it is the responsibility of the I&B Ministry to study the episode aired, and take cognisance of complaints filed by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) in connection with the communally inflammatory promotional video for a show on the presence of minorities in public service.

Chavhanke is known to have published such derogatory and venomous comments targeting the religious minorities in the past as well. He has also been previously arrested by the Lucknow police for inciting communal hatred. Among the many criminal charges him, also include charges of rape, attempt to murder and fraud, as per FIR filed by a former employee of Sudarshan news channel, in 2016.

As stated earlier in the CJP complaint, the show may have already violated the code of ethics and standards on reportage as set out by NBSA, as well as laws under the Indian Penal Code such as promoting enmity, causing disharmony, outraging religious feelings and so on.

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Centre allows Sudarshan News to air controversial #UPSCJihad show

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 14:54:38 +0000

Image Courtesy:newstrack24x7.co

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union Government has “allowed” Sudarshan News channel and its Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke to broadcast the controversial show ‘Bindas Bol’ which had been stayed by the High Court earlier. A jubilant Chavhanke declared that this show will be aired on Friday, September 11. He then went on to share the same communal toned promotional clip that he had done before, and ignited a massive controversy.

Chavhanke once again advertised the show as an ‘expose’ on Jamia Milia Islamia and the Muslim community, claiming that the success of Jamia Milia Islamia students in the Civil Services examination 2020 was “a conspiracy to infiltrate the civil service by Muslims”. He still continues to advertise his media trial and ‘investigation’ on the issue.

सत्यमेव जयते ??#HighCourt ने सुदर्शन पर लगाए प्रतिबंध पर हिन्दुस्थान सरकार की राय माँगी थी, सरकार ने प्रसारण से पूर्व रोक लगाने से मना किया है#SupremeCourt का पहले ही यह निर्णय था. अब शुक्रवार 8pm #नौकरशाही_जिहाद #UPSCJihad पर एतिहासिक #BindasBol होगा pic.twitter.com/B103VYjlmt

— Suresh Chavhanke “Sudarshan News” (@SureshChavhanke) September 10, 2020

Once again the promotional clip which is blatantly communal has gone viral. The Delhi High Court, on August 29, had directed the Centre to decide on the complaints received against the proposed show. It had ordered a stay on the show’s broadcast till the Centre took a decision in the matter.

Soon enough the Central Government allowed Chavhanke’s Sudarshan News channel to telecast a show on what the channel has branded as their “investigation” into what they allege is the “infiltration of Muslims” in the Civil Services. According to Live Law, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting “Directs @SudarshanNewsTV to broadcast the programme #BindasBol by ensuring that the programme does not violate any of the programme Codes.” The ministry has also directed the channel to “ensure that the show proposed to be telecast did not violate any programme code”, adding that action would be taken if any violation of the law was found.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Directs @SudarshanNewsTV to broadcast the programme #BindasBol by ensuring that the programme does not violate any of the programme Codes#sudarshannews pic.twitter.com/47XVpfZnhN

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) September 10, 2020

However, emboldened by the permission Chavhanke did not seem to believe any action would be taken if he violated any ethical codes, and continued to use derogatory terms like #UPSCJihad to promote this show as he had done before.

चरमपंथियो और वामपंथियो को पस्त कर के शुक्रवार रात 8 बजे होगा #नौकरशाही_जिहाद , #UPSCJihad पर #BindasBol .

पूरे देश में उत्सुकता

https://t.co/X0WYaWoS9R

— Sudarshan News (@SudarshanNewsTV) September 10, 2020

According to news reports, the channel in it’s written submission had stated before the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that its show was “not violative of the law” and added that if at all the programme was found to be violative, action as per law could be taken. The Centre had responded after the Delhi High Court, on August 29, directed it to decide on the complaints received against the proposed show. The stay was granted till the Centre took a decision in the matter.

The Delhi High Court had put the brakes on Suresh Chavhanke’s plan to air his show that alleged that there had been an “infiltration of Muslims” in India’s civil services. Last week, the Delhi High Court ordered a stay on the broadcast of this show, which was being advertised by Chavhanke on social media, using hashtags such as ‘#UPSCJihad’. The stay was ordered by a single-judge bench presided by Justice Navin Chawla, who issued a restraint order against the broadcast on a plea filed by former and current students of Jamia Millia Islamia University. The judge also issued notice to the Centre, UPSC, Sudarshan News channel and its Editor-in-Chief Chavhanke.

In an order issued Thursday, the Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry said it cannot pre-censor a programme, or stop it from being telecast. The Print reported the order as stating, “If only, when the programme is telecast and any violation of law is found, action can be taken”.

The news report added that in its order, the ministry called the controversy surrounding the show a “peculiar situation” where the programme has not yet been telecast but has drawn complaints on the basis of its promo. The ministry said it had sent a notice to Sudarshan News seeking its comments on whether the show adheres to the programme code. The channel replied in a written submission that it is not violative of the law and action can be taken against it if the show turns out to be, stated the news report.

“…Sudarshan TV is hereby directed to ensure that the programme proposed to be telecast does not violate any of the programme codes,” the ministry said in its order, reported The Print.

Chavhanke had advertised the show as an ‘expose’ on Jamia Milia Islamia and the Muslim community, claiming that the success of Jamia Milia Islamia students in the Civil Services examination 2020 was “a conspiracy to infiltrate the civil service by Muslims”. He still continues to advertise his media trial and ‘investigation’ on the issue.

सत्यमेव जयते ??#HighCourt ने सुदर्शन पर लगाए प्रतिबंध पर हिन्दुस्थान सरकार की राय माँगी थी, सरकार ने प्रसारण से पूर्व रोक लगाने से मना किया है#SupremeCourt का पहले ही यह निर्णय था. अब शुक्रवार 8pm #नौकरशाही_जिहाद #UPSCJihad पर एतिहासिक #BindasBol होगा pic.twitter.com/B103VYjlmt

— Suresh Chavhanke “Sudarshan News” (@SureshChavhanke) September 10, 2020

The plea filed through advocate Shadan Farasat contended that Suresh Chavhanke, the editor-in-chief of Sudarshan TV, openly engaged in hate speech and defamation against students of Jamia Milia Islamia and the Muslim community. Chavhanke’s promotional video, had claimed that the success of Jamia Millia Islamia students in the Civil Services examination 2020 represented a conspiracy to infiltrate the civil service by Muslims.

The advocate appearing for the Central Government had informed the court it had sought a clarification from the channel after receiving several complaints regarding the programme which was set to be broadcast on Sudarshan News TV on August 28 at 8 pm. According to reports, the Supreme Court while hearing a similar plea albeit filed by a different petitioner had refused to stay the broadcast of the same show. A two-judge bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and K M Joseph said that the court had to be circumspect in imposing a prior restraint on the publication or the airing of views on the basis of an unverified transcript of a 49-second clip.

Meanwhile, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has filed a complaint with the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) in connection with the communally inflammatory promotional video for a show on the presence of minorities in public service. This complaint is against Sudarshan News’s trailer of the show alleging ‘UPSC Jihad’. The channel’s Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke is seen and heard in the video saying, “How has there been a sudden rise in the number of Muslims in IAS and IPS? What is the secret behind scoring high marks in such a difficult exam? If Jihadis of Jamia become your Collectors and Chief Secretaries, what will happen then? The big reveal on the Executive being infiltrated.”

He had shared that the show was going to be an ‘expose’ on “Muslamano ki Ghuspaith ke shadantra ka bada khulasa (The conspiracy behind Muslim infiltration in UPSC – The Big Reveal). The CJP complaint brings to the NBSA’s notice that Chavhanke is known to have published such derogatory and venomous comments targeting the religious minorities in the past. He has also been previously arrested by the Lucknow police for inciting communal hatred. Among the many criminal charges him, also include charges of rape, attempt to murder and fraud, as per FIR filed by a former employee of Sudarshan news channel, in 2016.

The complaint further brings before the NBSA the many criticisms faced by the news channel on account of the promotional video of the show. More than 1,700 citizens — including prominent journalists, film directors, lawyers and civil society members — have written to seven chief ministers, demanding that an FIR be registered against Chavhanke for spreading ‘hate speech’. Further, even Jamia Teachers’ Association has urged the university administration to file a criminal defamation suit against Chavhanke for making offensive remarks after brilliant performances of Muslim aspirants in the recent examination held by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

The show stands to violate the code of ethics and standards on reportage as set out by NBSA from time to time such as acting in public interest, avoiding creating panic and distress, avoiding offensive language, avoiding religious stereotyping and so on. Further, it also amounts to various offences under the Indian Penal Code such as promoting enmity, causing disharmony, outraging religious feelings and so on, which have been mentioned in detail in the complaint.

The complaint states, “These discriminatory statements and unverified claims amount to generating an atmosphere that can lead to mass violence and targeting of the Muslim community. The Muslim community has been subjected to hate speech and vehement hate propaganda in the past few years and the TV news media has especially been complicit and an active participant in driving this narrative.” Here is the real news behind Suresh Chavhanke’s fake news factory:

However there is no mention of “UPSC Jihad” in the court’s order. And Chavhanke has declared that this show will be aired on Friday.

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Promoting fraternity: Courts to the rescue

Sat, 05 Sep 2020 04:11:52 +0000

Image Courtesy:countercurrents.org

Prashant Bhushan, a legal luminary and social activist, has shown the mirror to the Judiciary in a remarkable way. But that’s not the whole story. Recently two interventions of the Courts do offer hope that the judiciary is the hope for preserving the democratic values in the society. The first was the judgement where the Tablighi Jamaat members were exonerated from the charges of spreading Coronavirus (remember the despicable accusations of Corona Jihad?). The second one is the Courts coming to stop the transmission of the series Bindass Bol by Sudarshan TV.

Its Editor Suresh Chavhanke in his tweet had announced the telecast of the series which aims to expose the UPSC jihad; an alleged takeover of the bureaucracy jihad by Muslims. According to him, through a conspiracy the Muslims are infiltrating (ghuspaith) into our bureaucracy by getting a place in the UPSC exam, which will entitle them to become IAS or IPS officers.

Mr. Chavhanke through a 45 second teaser of his serial claimed that Jamia Jihadis will be occupying the prestigious positions of power through this Jihad. Interestingly of the 30 odd candidates who qualified in the exam 16 were Muslims and 14 Hindus. The Jamia Students approached the Court for a stay on this serial, which the Courts gave on the grounds that this show is likely to spread hate in society.

In a joint letter, retired Civil Servants who have served that Indian Government in various capacities, and who pointed out that they have no political affiliation, stated, “It is completely perverse to allege that there is a conspiracy to infiltrate Muslim officers into the services, or to use terms like UPSC Jihad or Civil Services Jihad in this connection. These communal and irresponsible statements amount to hate speech and are defamatory of an entire community.”

As such “Muslims make up 3.46 per cent of the country’s 8,417 IAS and IPS officers. According to an Indian Express report, of 292 Muslim officers, 160 are among the 5,862 who had been selected through the Civil Services examinations conducted by the UPSC, while the remaining 132 are among 2,555 who were promoted to the IAS or IPS from the state civil services on the basis of seniority and performance, which is also assessed by the UPSC. The other data is also very revealing. In the 2019 examination, 35 out of 829 selected candidates were Muslims. That comes to 4.22%, whereas their percentage in the population of India, according to the 2011 Census, is described as 14.2%. In the 2018 examination, out of 759 successful candidates, just 2.64%, or 20, were Muslims. In the 2017 examination, out of 810 successful candidates, 41, that is 5.06%, were Muslims.

Chavhanke claims that these candidates are given the option of Arabic studies due to which they are able to compete and succeed. All in all, Sudarshan TV and its Chief Chavhanke are on a track where Muslims should not be in any position of power and privilege. This is what their majoritarian politics dictates them to state.

While on one hand, this sees few Muslims, much less than their percentage in population to come to the bureaucracy, which should be operating on the principles of Indian Constitution, above the narrow considerations of religion, Chavhanke and his tribe, who are in abundance, cannot see Muslims having any power and authority. The jaundiced vision of Hindu Nationalists like Chavhanake are now introducing a new dimension to the process of national governance.

As such the percentage of Muslims in the Government services is abysmally low. This average of 4% in top jobs matches with around 5-6% of Muslims in overall Government jobs. This has a lot to do with the economic and educational status of Muslims, worsened by the insecurity caused by the regular repeated violence against them, manifesting in the form of spectacular acts of violence like Bhiwandi, Jalgaon, Bhagalpur, Meerut, Mumbai, Muzaffarnagar and lately in Delhi.

Various commissions and committees have gone into the issue of proper representation of Muslims into Government jobs. Gopal Singh Commission (1980), Rangnath Mishra Commission and lastly Sachar Committee have given the similar observations that Muslims are grossly under represented in the jobs and their representation in jails is much higher than percentage in jails.

Their political plight has also worsened over the years and the representation in the Parliament is on constant decline. Many a Muslim leader has gone to the extent of saying that any way they have been marginalized at political and social level. The need for increasing focus on education has been on the agenda of many a major Muslim group and many oversees Indian groups of Indian origin also try to promote the educational efforts of Muslim community.

It is paradoxical that Jamia Milia Islamia, which has been targeted by Chavhanke ranks among the top Universities of the country. The economic decline of Muslim community, insecurity and ghettoisation have dealt a severe blow on the aspirations of Muslims, Muslim youth in particular.

Saeed Mirza’s classic, Salim Lande Pe Mat Ro (Don’t mourn the plight of Salim Langde), brilliantly shows the dilemmas of Muslim youth in choosing the path for their future. They realize that getting jobs is so difficult for them as they are Muslims, so why bother so much about education!

With Chavhanke’s efforts to introduce a new dimension in the Civil services, the process of communal divide and marginalisation of Muslims will only go in a worse direction. There are photographs of him greeting Narendra Modi and Amit Shah from close quarters. The channel is close to RSS ideologically.

This coming on the back of allegations of Tablighis undertaking Corona Jihad, is a worse move, which needs to be countered. Jihad seems to be the dog whistle to demonise Muslims, land jihad, love jihad, bureaucracy jihad and what have you. Courts by staying this have done a yeoman’s service to promotion of fraternity, the core value of Indian Constitution. And this example gives the hope that Indian pluralism and diversity has a chance to survive.

* The writer is a human rights defender and a former professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay).

Other pieces by Dr. Puniyani:

Scapegoats and Holy Cows
India’s composite culture and Muslim stalwarts
Covid 19 and furthering of sectarian agenda in education
Mahatma Gandhi, Race and Caste

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