NBDSA censures Zee News for its 'Mehandi Jihad' coverage, orders takedown

The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has ordered Zee News to remove all content related to its broadcast on the alleged 'Mehandi Jihad' controversy in Uttar Pradesh. 

In an order passed on September 25, NBDSA Chairperson Justice (Retired) AK Sikri held that Zee News violated the principle of neutrality in its reporting. 

“Having perused the footage of the broadcasts, it was noticed that in all four impugned broadcasts, while ample time was given to the views of the Hindu Groups, the broadcaster [Zee News] had failed to present any other point of view, including that of the people affected by such a decision or the government. Failure to present the views of all affected parties constituted a violation of the principle of neutrality under the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards and the Specific Guidelines Covering Reportage,” NBDSA said. 

Therefore, it admonished the channel over its coverage and directed it to be careful in future and obtain views from the other side as well. 

“NBDSA further also directed the broadcaster to remove the videos of the impugned broadcasts, if still available from the website of the channel, or YouTube, and remove all hyperlinks, including access, which should be confirmed to NBDSA in writing within 7 days of the Order,” it ordered. 

The Authority passed the order on a complaint filed by Indrajeet Ghorpade against Zee News for broadcasts aired in October 2024 about the “Mehndi Jihad” controversy. 

These broadcasts cited calls by certain “Hindu organisations”, asking Hindu women to engage only Hindus for applying henna (mehandi) on their hands during the Karwa Chauth festival.

As per the complainant, the channel accused Muslim mehndi artists of spitting in the henna applied to Hindu women, hiding their identity to marry Hindu women, and forcibly converting them to Islam.

It was stated that the broadcasts featured inflammatory tickers and headlines to spread anti-Muslim misinformation and encourage communal hatred.

The channel defended its coverage, stating that the coverage was factual, neutral, and intended to inform viewers about statements by certain Hindu groups in Western Uttar Pradesh during Karwa Chauth. The broadcaster said it did not endorse or amplify hateful rhetoric and the tickers reflected statements by third parties.

However, the NBDSA said that when dealing with potentially sensitive subject matters, it would behove the broadcasters to critically examine the content they air, to ensure that the same aligns with the journalistic standards outlined in the Code of Conduct.

[Read Order]