India

Indian TV channel airs show supporting Israel, uses GFX to show destruction of Masjid Nabwi in Medina

New Delhi: Sudarshan News, a Delhi-based Hindi news channel, infamous for spewing hatred and inciting violence against Muslims, aired a graphical depiction of bombing on the Green Dome of Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, the holy city of Muslims, as a part of its coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The show ‘Bindas Bol’ was hosted by its rabble-rousing anti-Muslim editor, Suresh Chavhanke, calling its viewers to support Israel and arguing that the country will stand with India in its future wars.

During the show, the editor highlighted India-Isreal relations even before the ‘advent of Islam’ and how India must stand in solidarity with Israel, against the wishes of human rights activists, journalists, and intellectuals of the country supporting Palestinians.

The show starts with disturbing visuals of destruction in Gaza along with a dramatic background score. The cover animation of the show depicts Indian PM Narendra Modi and Israel PN Benjamin Netanhayu’s forehead marked with a Hindu “tilaka”, while a missile hits the green dome of Madina.

The anchor explains the motive of the show explaining the need and importance to stand with Israel in current times as it will be an ‘advantage for India in the future’. He also questions Indians standing with Palestinians in the name of religion and raising concerns of their ‘loyalties’ whenever India breaks into a war with Pakistan.

The entire program is weaved around similarities being drawn between India and Israel, politically and culturally to evoke the emotions of the audience.

The program goes on to invite guests including Ravi Kumar Iyer, international relations expert, and Siddharth Dave, an expert in India Israel Relations to discuss the ‘issue’. They also link connections between jews and Indians by saying how jews consider India as their motherland and are thankful to the country for their support in all difficult times, especially during the holocaust, when, in reality, India itself was under colonial rule.

After the broadcast of the show, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader and national spokesperson, Waris Pathan took to Twitter, demanding Chavanke’s arrest under the National Security Act for trying to create communal disharmony.

Known for its vitriolic anti-Muslim-themed programs, Sudarshan News has been pulled up before by the top court for airing problematic shows. In September last year, SabrangIndia’s sister publication, Citizens for Justice and Peace, had moved News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) against Sudarshan for a trailer of the show alleging ‘UPSC Jihad’, insinuating that Muslims are rapidly infiltrating the Civil services.

The complaint was then forwarded to the I and B ministry by NBSA. The Ministry had cautioned the News channel and also called the show offensive. Eventually, the Supreme Court stayed the broadcast of the show, ruling that prima facie it appears that the programme vilifies the Muslim community and that the content was insidious.

 

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