By Maktoob
The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has fined Zee News ₹2 lakh over its coverage of a student protest at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), after finding that the broadcaster had distorted the nature of the protest and used inflammatory language while reporting on slogans expressing solidarity with Palestine.
The order came on a complaint filed by Students Islamic Organisation of India National Secretary Talha Mannan against the Zee News broadcast.
According to SIO of India, the broadcast sought to portray Palestine-related slogans raised during the protest as being associated with criminality and extremism, while giving the coverage a communal and inflammatory character.
Mannan, along with 8–10 unidentified students, was booked for raising pro-Palestine slogans during student protests last year after a complaint filed by the Hindu Raksha Dal district president.
The NBDSA, after examining the broadcast and submissions from both sides, noted that the AMU protest involved multiple issues, including opposition to a fee hike. The Authority found that the broadcaster had omitted the principal purpose of the agitation and instead focused on the Palestine-related slogans.
As a result, the broadcast gave the impression that the protest itself was centred on the Palestine issue, the Authority observed.
The NBDSA also found the broadcaster’s treatment of the slogans problematic, noting that the phraseology used was inflammatory and appeared to advocate criminal action rather than constitute neutral reporting.
The Authority directed Zee News to remove the impugned footage, where available, from its website and YouTube, along with the relevant hyperlinks and access. The broadcaster was also directed to confirm compliance within seven days.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.
