India
Times Now anchor booked for role in derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
New Delhi: An FIR has been registered against Times Now anchor and Group Editor of Times Network Navika Kumar in Maharashtra.
The FIR comes almost three weeks after BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who was a panellist on Navika’s show Newshour, made derogatory comments against Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
According to Newslaundry, the FIR was registered in the Nanalpet police station in Parbhani based on a complaint from a Muslim cleric.
Navika has been booked allegedly for maliciously intending to outrage religious feelings (Section 295-A of IPC). Nupur Sharma, who has now been suspended by the BJP, has also been named in the FIR.
Times Now had earlier distanced itself from Nupur’s comments.
On May 27, the channel took to Twitter to say, “Views expressed by BJP Spokesperson on Newshour@9 last night are her personal views. TIMES NOW does not endorse views of participants. We urge participants on our debates to maintain restraint and not indulge in unparliamentary language against fellow panelists,” (sic).
The derogatory remarks made by BJP’s Nupur Sharma triggered protests and outrage in India and in foreign especially Muslim countries.
Times Now and other ‘national’ news channels have faced criticism for amplifying hate.
The Editors Guild of India had on June 8 issued a statement saying it is “disturbed by the irresponsible conduct of some national news channels for deliberately creating circumstances that target vulnerable communities by spewing hatred towards them and their beliefs.”
