Times Now anchors did not conduct debates on Delhi Riots in impartial and objective manner: NBDSA

The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has found that Times Now anchors Rahul Shivshankar and Padmaja Joshi did not conduct debates related to the Delhi Riots in an impartial and objective manner..The Authority thus asked Times Now to take down videos of two of its broadcasts within seven days, noting that they violated the Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards and Guidelines issued by it..The order passed on November 19 by NBDSA Chairperson Justice (retd) AK Sikri stated,"NBDSA noted that while the broadcaster undoubtedly has the right to conduct a debate on any subject of its choice, however, the Anchors of the impugned programmes did not conduct the debates in an impartial and objective manner and had therefore violated the Fundamental Principles as enumerated in the Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards and various Guidelines issued by NBDSA.".The order was passed on complaints filed by lawyer Utkarsh Mishra against shows anchored by Rahul Shivshankar and Padmaja Joshi. The former show was titled "Shocking Secret admission out in Umar’s arrest, Does left lobby know the truth Delhi riots key witness intimidated, threat linked to kingpin?" and aired on September 14, 2021. It was alleged that Times Now did not cover the Delhi Riots investigation in a fact based manner. Rather, it had selectively chosen observations of the Court, the Police and other information regarding anti- CAA protesters to unduly influence socio-political narratives, thereby developing hostilities against individuals.The complainant stated that the journalist reported a webinar that had taken place, as a “secret meeting of leftists” when the meeting was actually a webinar on a Zoom call that was uploaded as a Facebook Live video. The said webinar was public and open to any individual. Therefore, it was alleged that by reporting the webinar as “secret meeting,” the broadcaster expressly attempted to mislead the viewers and develop hostility between communities..The latter show, which aired on September 23, 2020 was titled “The Newshour Agenda; - Delhi Riots: Plot To Kill Cops & Kaafirs Exposed; Peaceful Protest A Facade?" In this show, Mishra alleged, the anchor passed judgement on the strength of the witness testimonies, WhatsApp chats attempted to discredit the anti-CAA protesters by using sub judice issues as the basis for her accusations, thereby running a media trial to hinder one side of a controversial issue."Her attempts to discredit the criticism as lack of faith in the judiciary was more egregious in light of the transfer of Justice Muralidhar, which was criticised by several former judges as unprecedented and politically motivated," the complaint stated..Countering the allegations, Times Now claimed that Mishra files unnecessary and frivolous complaints repeatedly against the same anchors and that it had merely conducted free debates on a burning issue, which constituted fair reporting.Further, it was claimed that during the debates, the public at large was provided with a wholesome view of a topic, in respect of which arguments of both sides were presented and debated upon..During the hearing held on September 28, the complainant argued that the anchors highlighted only specific police charges or court observations that projected prima facie guilt upon the anti-CAA protestor’s role in the riots and then proceeded to pass judgment on the veracity of the charges.It was further argued that the show started with the opinion of the anchor which was aimed at directing the debate only in one direction and that if anybody tried to make an assertion to the contrary, he/she was challenged by the anchor, in clear violation of Section 4, 5 and 6 of the Code of Ethics..Times Now contended that the complainant had cherry picked stanzas and/two three minutes of broadcast to show adverse effect, which is not permissible. The programme as a whole has to be considered and the complainant cannot be permitted to dissect a sentence or a stanza to show any adverse effect, it was argued..After looking into the complaints and the responses from the broadcaster, the NBDSA was of the view that while the broadcaster undoubtedly has the right to conduct a debate on any subject of its choice, the said debates were not conducted in an impartial and objective manner..In an order passed on the same day, NBDSA found that Zee News' coverage of the farmers protests' employed certain headlines and taglines in violation of existing norms..Zee News headlines in clear violation of Code of Ethics and broadcasting guidelines: NBDSA.[Read Order]