TV CHANNELS ADMONISHED FOR FALSEHOOD ON ACTIVIST UMAR KHALID

                      From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA), a self-regulatory body of private TV channels headed by retired Supreme Court judge A K Sikri, has admonished five TV networks for the falsehoods perpetuated against activist Umar Khalid in custody in the 2020 Delhi riots.Giving a ruling on June 13, the NBDSA directed the news channels Zee News, Zee Hindustan, India TV, Aaj Tak and News18 to immediately remove the news broadcasts with misleading reporting to present facts in the wrong way.

It reacted to a complaint filed by the Bengaluru-based wildlife photographer and conservationist Indrajit Ghorpade on November 30, 2020.

The ruling said the media has the freedom to report on subjects of public interest, but it does not have the right to treat the police report as the only truth to defame the person. It said it was crystal clear that the named TV news channels crossed the line by broadcasting sensational taglines and tickers continuously on their screens.

“Taglines and tickers such as ‘Umar Khalid is the Mastermind of Delhi riots’, ‘Umar Khalid plotted the Delhi riots’, ‘He burnt Delhi, he is not a comrade, he is a rioter’, ‘Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam biggest masterminds’, ‘Sharjeel-Umar incited violence’ gives an impression that the ‘said accused has already been declared guilty,” the NBDSA pointed out.

It further added that when a viewer views such content running continuously on their TV screens, it creates a certain perception. “These taglines or hashtags should be used carefully, especially in controversial matters,” the media body said.

It said: ““The media has the freedom to report on any subject matter concerning public interest. It is a fact that riots took place in Delhi. It is also a fact that Umar Khalid was arrested by the police, and the police have filed a charge sheet alleging that Umar Khalid was the mastermind behind these riots…However, an important question that arises at this stage is whether the media has the right to treat the police report as gospel truth, and on that basis, proceed to discuss the programme as if the charge of inciting violence leading to riots stands proven against Umar Khalid? Obviously, that is not permissible.”

“In view of the above, these broadcasters/channels are advised to exercise restraint and not to broadcast such taglines and/or hashtags which project the accused in a manner as if he/she is guilty,” NBDSA said.

The five videos which have been asked to be removed from the web are: ‘Delhi Riots को लेकर बड़ा खुलासा | Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam की साजिश’ by Zee Hindustan; ‘Taal Thok Ke (Special Edition): 2016 के JNU Plan से 2020 में Delhi Riots?’ by Zee News; ‘How Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid Plotted Violence in Jamia, Shaheen Bagh, Aligarh Over Volatile Issue’ by India TV; ‘Delhi Riots: Suppl. Chargesheet Filed Against Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam’ by India TV. The fifth video is currently unavailable on YouTube.It may be recalled that the NBDSA was formed to keep a check on all private news channels and consider complaints about broadcasts. NBDSA was formerly known as News Broadcasting Standards Authority.