Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Jun 18: On the basis of a complaint filed against three channels relating to alleged controversial coverage of Tablighi Jamaat, Times Now English channel, and two Kannada channels, the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) has censured English TV channel, Times Now while it has fined two Kannada channels, New 18 Kannada and Suvarna News, accusing them of biased coverage of the coronavirus infection. The authority said that the channels had targeted members of the Tablighi Jamaat and the Muslim community in general in the coverage done in 2020.
Bengaluru-based ‘Campaign Against Hate Speech' (CAHS) had filed the above complaints in the year 2020.The organization, run by lawyers, academicians etc had complained to the above authority pointing out that the above three channels had given hateful coverage on the issue of coronavirus pandemic. News 18 Kannada channel has been imposed with a fine of one lac rupees, which has to be paid to the News Broadcasters Association within seven days from the date of receipt of the said order. The channel is found to have violated the code of ethics and broadcasting standards besides principles of self-regulation.
The complaint against Times Now was relating to a programme anchored by Sakshi Joshi on the issue of Tablighi Jamaat wilfully sabotaging India and aired on April 2, last year. The organisation said panellists had targeted the Muslim community by making unsubstantiated claims and accusations.
Times Now on its part argued that the programme aired by it was not lopsided and contained different opinions and that it was not against the Muslim community. It said that the Tablighi Jamaat had been merely questioned. In its order dated June 16, NBSA which censured Times Now said action was taken for telecasting programmes that could cause communal dissensions containing some claims which cannot be substantiated.
The complaint against News18 Kannada channel was regarding two programmes broadcast by it, which were aired on April 1, 2020 where the anchor alleged that the congregation of Muslims resulted in spread of coronavirus in India. In the second programme, the anchor compared the Jamaat congregating to Wuhan in China. The channel denied allegations and asserted that the channel had conveyed to the viewers about the pandemic and steps taken by the government to control the spread of the disease.
Suvarna News Channel was blamed for seven programmes which it transmitted between March 31 and April 4 last year where Tablighi Jamaat was mainly targeted. CAHS said the channel had no proof whatever about Tablighi Jamaat members quarantined at various places seeking luxury things. Suvarna News has been asked to pay a fine of Rs 50,000 and also to delete all the links of the six programmes from all platforms including YouTube.