The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) recently slapped a fine of ₹75,000 on the Aaj Tak news channel for violating principles of objectivity and neutrality in its broadcast criticising a statement by former US President Barack Obama.Obama had spoken about disenfranchisement of minorities in India and said that there was a possibility of India pulling apart if it fails to protect the rights of ethnic minorities.NBDSA Chairperson Justice AK Sikri observed that while reporting and criticising Obama's statement, anchor Sudhir Chaudhary went overboard by bringingin an unrelated narrative and connecting Obama's statement with separatist organizations and extremist groups and using phrases like Tukde Tukde Gang", "Khalistani in Panjab" and "Pakistani supporters.""In the impugned broadcast, by using words 'Tukde Tukde Gang', 'Khalistani in Panjab' and 'Pakistani supporters', instead of confining its discussion to Mr. Obama's statement, the broadcaster had failed to present a controversial issue with sensitivity and objectivity," the order said.NBDSA further observed that connecting Obama's statement with separatist organizations and extremist groups was a gross misrepresentation. Doing so amounted to a violation of the principles of objectivity and neutrality, the authority held.The order was passed on a complaint by one Utkarsh Mishra against the programme 'Black and White' aired by Aaj Tak on June 26, 2023.In the broadcast, Chaudhary was criticising Barack Obama's statement to CNN during an interview which was aired during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official State visit to the United States of America (USA).In the interview, when asked about how Joe Biden should engage with with leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and PM Modi, who are considered to be "autocratic....illiberal democrats", Barack Obama said that part of his argument would be that if the rights of ethnic minorities are not protected in India, there is a strong possibility that India, at some point, would start pulling apart."And we have seen what happens when you start getting into large internal conflicts... That would be contrary to the interests not only of Muslim India, but also Hindu India. I think it's important to be able to talk about these things honestly," he had said.As per the complainant, the broadcast by Aaj Tak grossly mischaracterized the statement made by Obama and attributed it to the "Tukde Tukde Gang", "separatist and terrorist movements like Khalistan" and prejudiced the viewers' understanding of the issue.This, the complainant argued, was violative of the principles of neutrality and objectivity under the Specific Guidelines covering Reportage, Guidelines G, H and K under the Specific Guidelines for Anchors conducting Programmes including Debates, and Guidelines for Prevention of Hate Speech.The complainant contended that the phrase "pulling apart" was characterized (in the broadcast) solely as partition called for by separatists and that criticism concerning the disenfranchisement of Muslims was reported in the most binary, extremist and reductionist context possible.He reiterated that this belief was mischaracterized and attributed to "Tukde Tukde Gang", separatists and foreign intelligence agency organizations, which Chaudhary tried to contrast with the belief that Modi is promoting minority rights and cultural ties with the Middle Eastern countries as evidenced by improving trade relations.Aaj Tak, on the other hand, argued that disagreeing with the view expressed in the broadcast was hardly a ground for a challenge.The channel highlighted that Obama was a former head of State and not an ordinary citizen and that his statement had become the subject of a huge controversy with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman weighing in on it as being "hypocritical."Aaj Tak also argued that Chaudhary was not comparing Obama to "tukde tukde gang" but was merely stating that the language used by him was usually used by separatist organisations, Khalistanis and terrorists who believe in the idea of separation and secession.Moreover, it said that unfortunately, phrases like "tukde tukde gang", "urban naxals" have become part of language, including that used by media but argued that there was no blanket prohibition regarding the usage of such terms.NBDSA observed that Chaudhary violated the principles of objectivity and neutrality by connecting Obama's statement to separatists organisations.There would have been no issue with the impugned had the anchor confined its analysis only to reporting the Statement made by Mr. Obama or criticising it. However, in the impugned broadcast, while doing so the anchor went totally stringent and overboard by bringing in a totally unconnected narrative," the NBDSA order stated.Therefore, apart from finding a violation of the principles of objectivity and neutrality as enshrined in the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards, NBDSA also found that the broadcast had violated the Specific Guidelines for Anchors conducting Programmes including Debates, which states that "all programmes whether debates or otherwise must be presented in an impartial, objective and neutral manner and news should not be selected or designed to promote any particular belief, opinion or interests."
Accordingly, NBDSA decided to impose a fine of ₹75,000 on Aaj Tak and advised it to ensure that in future broadcasts, controversial subjects are fairly presented with strict adherence to the principles of neutrality, impartiality and objectivity in the broadcast.
NBDSA further directed the Aaj Tak to edit the video of the broadcast by expunging the objectionable parts and if that is not possible, to remove the video altogether from all its platforms, channels and websites.
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