News Channels Fined for Spreading Communal Hatred

 

The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has taken action against several television news channels in India for airing programs deemed to promote communal hatred and disharmony.

Key Points:

• Channels Fined: Times Now Navbharat (Rs 1 lakh), News 18 India (Rs 50,000), and Aaj Tak (warning issued).
• Reason: Programs violated the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards regarding impartiality, objectivity, and avoiding communal narratives.
• Specific Examples:
  • Times Now Navbharat: A program on "love jihad" that generalized acts of violence against women belonging to a specific community.
  • News 18 India: Three shows, including those anchored by Aman Chopra and Amish Devgan, communalised the Shraddha Walker case as "love jihad."
  • Aaj Tak: A program anchored by Sudhir Chaudhary that presented acts of violence during Ram Navami as targeting a particular community.

NBDSA's Observations:

• Media has the right to conduct discussions but should avoid targeting entire communities for the actions of individuals.
• NBDSA acknowledges instances of deception in inter-faith relationships but emphasizes that generalizing such cases as "love jihad" or blaming an entire community is unacceptable.

NBDSA's Call to Action:

• News channels urged to adhere to the Code of Ethics and avoid content that incites hatred or violence.
• News channels reminded of their responsibility to uphold democratic values of secularism, pluralism, and diversity.

Additional Information:

• "Love jihad" is a disputed term used by some to allege that Muslim men engage in deception to convert women from other faiths to Islam.
• This case highlights the ongoing issue of communal tension in India and the role media plays in shaping public discourse.

It is important to note that these are the observations and actions taken by the NBDSA, and the channels can appeal to further challenge the decisions.