The News Broadcasters and Digital Standards Authority has told Aaj Tak and India Today to remove sections from three shows aired in April 2023. All of these featured anchor Sudhir Chaudhary raising questions around same-sex marriage.
These included a Black and White episode on April 19, a Seedhi Baat episode with then law minister Kiren Rijiju and an India Today Roundtable Karnataka episode with Home Minister Amit Shah – both of them on April 22.
The NBDSA issued a common order on January 24 this year in response to four complaints, one filed by one Utkarsh Mishra and the rest by Pune-based techie and activist Indrajit Ghorpade, who has filed several complaints against news channels in the past.
Newslaundry had reported how the Black and White episode in April 2023 featured gendered nomenclatures and dog whistles. The dog whistle seemed to be that same-sex marriage does not bode well for Indian society and a third world country already dealing with problems such as electricity, poverty, hunger and unemployment.
Noting that the LGBTQ community must be treated with dignity, the NBDSA pointed out that the show was in violation of hate speech, neutrality and impartiality principles and guidelines.
The show had come in the wake of the Supreme Court hearing over petitions seeking the recognition of same sex marriage. Earlier this year, the court dismissed petitions to review its judgment refusing to recognise same-sex marriages.
Over the shows featuring Rijiju and Shah, the NBDSA noted that Chaudhary’s commentary was derogatory and in violation of NBDSA’s guidelines related to reporting court proceedings, defamatory content and good taste and decency.
Chaudhary had falsely said that the Chief Justice had told the Solicitor General that “yahan wahi hoga jo mai chahunga”.
Referring to the then CJI DY Chandrachud, he had said, “Ye desh kisi ke baap ka nahi hai aur kuch log isse chalane ki koshish kar rahe hai.”
The NBDSA has asked Aaj Tak and India Today to delete the violating sections from the programmes.
Complaining about the media is easy. Why not do something to make it better? Support independent media and subscribe to Newslaundry today.
Newslaundry is a reader-supported, ad-free, independent news outlet based out of New Delhi. Support their journalism, here.
