"There Was An Agenda To The Debate" : NBDSA Orders 'Zee News' To Take Down Its Video On Muslim Population

The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) on Monday directed Zee News to take down a show which was telecast last year by it on the issue of the Muslim Population titled "Kudrat Bahaana Hai, Muslim Aabaadi Badhaana Hai?"

Dealing with a bunch of complaints made against Zee News for airing the above-named program, NBDSA Chairperson Justice A. K. Sikri observed thus:

"While the Authority observes that the media is free to conduct debates on any subject and invite any panelist of its choice, however, the debate must be balanced and conducted in accordance with the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards (Code of Ethics) and the Guidelines issued by NBDSA."

Before the Authority, the broadcasters (Zee News) submitted that the intention of the broadcasts was not to give the debate a religious or communal color, as the programme was aired to debate the growth of the population in India, the two child policy proposed by the Uttar Pradesh Government and the statement made by Mr. Shafiqur Rahman and Samajwadi Party MP on the proposed legislation.

However, the Authority noted that the headline of the programme was telecast without any data or substantial material to support it, and during the hearing the channel could not justify this statement contained in the headline.

"If the broadcasters desired to debate the two child policy proposed by the UP Government, the tagline/headline could have been avoided and a more neutral and objective tagline could have been displayed during the debate...the manner in which the topic was framed, and the language used clearly pointed to the fact that there was an agenda to the debate," the Authority remarked.

The Authority also took into account the images, and the taglines displayed during the debate which read "Nizaam-ekudrat ya Hindustan pe aafat?"; "Kudrat bahana hain, Muslim abaadi badana hain?"; "Hum dohamare do par majhabi rukawat kyo?"; "UP me chunao, isiliye abaadi par tanao?"

Noting that the taglines were used without any supporting data or facts and thus, the taglines amounted to giving tilt to the debate which created a perception that there is only one community that is responsible for the population growth in the country.

In view of this, the Authority also clarified that adding a "disclaimer" to any programme including debates does not absolve the broadcaster of its responsibility in the event the programme violates the Code of Ethics and Guidelines issued by the Authority.

In view of the above, NBDSA cautioned the broadcasters to be more careful while airing such programs in future.

Lastly, NBDSA directed the video of the show in question, if still available on the website of the channel, or YouTube, or any other links, should be removed immediately, and the same should be confirmed to NBDSA in writing within 7 days of receipt of the Order.