Sudarshan News' 'UPSC jihad' show stayed after Jamia students' plea

The Delhi High Court has stayed the broadcast of a controversial show on Sudarshan News channel, the trailer of which allegedly indicated it is based on the “presence of Muslims” in civil services.

The program titled ‘Bindas Bol’ was scheduled to be aired on Sudarshan News channel at 8 pm on Friday (August 28), anchored by Suresh Chavhanke, whose Twitter bio identifies him as the Editor-in-Chief of the channel.

A single-judge bench of Justice Navin Chavla passed the stay order on a petition by the students of the Jamia Millia Islamia University that sought a prohibition on the proposed broadcast, according to LiveLaw.

According to the petition, the programme allegedly contains content that may defame and incite hatred against Jamia Millia Islamia, its alumni, and the Muslim community, the report said.

The petitioners allege that in the trailer of the show, Mr. Chavhanke has openly engaged in hate speech against the University. The program allegedly claims of a “conspiracy to infiltrate the civil services by Muslims,” it said.

Mr. Chavhanke has “openly incited his target non-Muslim audience by fear-mongering that ‘jihadis’ or terrorists from Jamia Millia Islamia would soon hold positions of authority and power like that of Collector and Secretary,” the report quoted the petitioners as alleging.

The court will take up the matter again on September 7, according to The Quint.

On Thursday, the IPS Association, in a tweet from its official handle, had condemned the program and termed it as “irresponsible piece of journalism”.

“A news story targeting candidates in civil services on the basis of religion is being promoted by Sudarshan TV. We condemn the communal and irresponsible piece of journalism,” the IPS Association said.