On August 5, 2022 at 7:57 PM, News18 India broadcast the debate programme “Desh Nahi JhukneDenge” under the title “Ghazwa-e-Hind,” hosted by Aman Chopra. The show was held in response to recent security agency reports on the demographic shift in the borderline districts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Assam.
In accordance with the NBDSA’s standard operating procedures, Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) initially complained to News18 India on August 8, 2022. However, after receiving an unsatisfactory response from the channel on August 14, 2022, APCR felt it was appropriate to escalate the complaint to NBDSA on August 22, 2022, where we sought further redress. NBDSA considered their complaint on October 28, 2022 and called both the parties for hearing before the authority on November 11, 2022. Recently on February 27, 2023 NBDSA passed an order against the broadcasting channel. The order is expected to be executed by the channel by March 6, 2023. Thus, it took us close to 7 months or 213 days to knock down the mainstreaming of hate against minorities in India.
During the programme, the anchor made statements such as “Puri duniya kemusalman Hindustan me hi ayenge, aur kehte hen Hindustan me musalmankhatre me hen”; “Shoaib kerhe hen ki ghuspathiyon ka koi dharam n hinhota to phir ek hi dharmke logon ki jansankhya borders par kesebadhrhihe?,”“Ye (Muslim Protestors) videshimusalmanokeliyedesh me aaglgadete hen, shaheenbagh (protest) karte hen.”“Border par Muslim abaadiitnitezi se badhi he…jise‘jansankhya jihad’… kaha jarhahe..”; “Border par Bharat ko barbadkarne ka nya plan he, Wesekehne ko Hindu Rashtra he lekin border Muslim hogye hen”; “Kagaznhidikhaenge, bhagaejaenge”; “…Entry points par agar apnedharmke log honge to phirasanibhihogi… wahinsharanbhi mil jaegi” and “Hindustan me Hindu kabhighuspathiyanhinhosakta”.
Several offensive and inflammatory tickers such as “#BorderParPanIslam”;“Border par Islamikaran pura?”; “Border par badhe‘bhaijan’, Khatarnak he Plan?” and “Border par Ghazwa-e-Baroodbichhgya he” aired during the programme.
NBDSA observed that the broadcast sought no accountability from the government but rather attempted to communalise the issue of national security and importance.
NBDSA strongly disapproved of the impugned broadcast and seriously objected to offensive and inflammatory statements and tickers.
NBDSA held that the broadcast violated the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards and Specific Guidelines Covering Reportage No. 9 relating to Racial & Religious Harmony and warned not to repeat such violations in future.
NBDSA imposed a fine of `20,000 on the broadcaster and also directed the broadcaster to remove the video of the said broadcast, from the website of the channel, or YouTube, and remove all other hyperlinks within 7 days.
APCR believes that the show makes every effort to further a divisive agenda by giving the problem of illegal immigration a communal vibe and associating the rise of one particular minority community’s population with a national security threat. To incite fear and panic in the minds of the general public, the words and rhetoric featured in the show unfairly attack a particular community and faith. Moreover, lacking in impartiality and neutrality, the programme presents mere apprehensions as facts, which misleads and prejudices public discourse. The show also fails to question the government’s failure to address the issue of illegal immigration, which is the media’s primary purpose.
The channel’s intent is called into question for using inflammatory, wilfully misleading, and maliciously biased content to serve some vested interests and sow discord in society. “We think that the channel intentionally disregards the self-regulation guidelines, code of ethics, and specific reporting guidelines set forth by the NBSDA. Additionally, it violates a number of laws related to inciting hatred among groups, hate speech, and inciting violence under the Indian Penal Code,” said APCR.
M Huzaifa, the complainant representing APCR, emphasised the urgent need for transparent and efficient mechanisms for prevention and redressal, such as NBDSA, particularly at a time when the country is experiencing an alarming climate of hate.
“The normalisation of hate and bigotry against minorities must cease immediately to prevent further harm to our society’s peace and progress,” he stated.
Huzaifa believes the current ruling is only a small step towards addressing the media-politics nexus that capitalises on hate for profit. He further asserts that the redressal process is insufficient and delayed, providing no respite for victims of frequent and ongoing violations.
Advocate Tamanna Pankaj, the counsel on behalf of APCR, has submitted before the authority that since the video of the impugned programme was in the public realm, a large number of persons had responded to the said programme with comments which bordered on hate towards the Muslim community making its members vulnerable to violence.