Broadcasting Bias: CJP’s fight against hatred in Indian news How mainstream media outlets fuelled division in 2024—and the accountability they faced for it
05, Feb 2025 | CJP Team
As 2024 drew to a close, the landscape of Indian media was once again marked by contentious broadcasts that have stirred up deep divisions across communities. Throughout the year, numerous complaints were filed against prominent news channels for their failure to uphold journalistic standards, with many broadcasts descending into the realm of sensationalism, bias, and communal rhetoric. The year witnessed a series of alarming incidents where media platforms blurred the lines between reporting and opinion, often fanning the flames of religious and social discord rather than fostering informed, balanced debate.
From the vilification of vulnerable communities to the sensationalisation of sensitive legal and political issues, media coverage became a tool for polarisation rather than public enlightenment. The complaints lodged by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) against several leading broadcasters—ranging from Aaj Tak to Times Now Navbharat—highlight a troubling trend of irresponsible reporting. These incidents showcase how powerful media platforms have been weaponised, not to inform, but to amplify biases, distort facts, and deepen societal divides.
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This year-end piece delves into the details of each complaint, tracing the path from inflammatory broadcasts to their repercussions, including stern warnings and censure from the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBDSA). We will examine how these broadcasts disrupted social harmony, perpetuated harmful stereotypes, and violated ethical guidelines, underscoring the urgent need for media responsibility in an era of growing division. The year 2024, thus, serves as a stark reminder of the vital role media plays in shaping public discourse and the imperative of ensuring that it remains a force for good, not a catalyst for discord.
Complaints sent by CJP to broadcasters and the NBDSA
- Aaj Tak: Tribal stereotypes on prime time
On February 6, 2024, CJP filed a complaint against Aaj Tak and its anchor Sudhir Chaudhary for a casteist and biased segment titled “Soren परिवार का विश्लेषण”, aired on January 31. The show, broadcast the night before former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s arrest by the ED, strayed far from impartial journalism and instead targeted the Tribal leader and his family with harmful stereotypes.
Instead of focusing on the alleged money laundering charges, Chaudhary’s commentary fixated on the Soren family’s purported wealth and lifestyle. The complaint highlighted how the host weaponised caste biases, portraying Soren as exploiting his Tribal identity for personal gain. The segment used stigmatising language and imagery to frame the issue, ignoring Soren’s denial of involvement in the 2008-2009 land scam and failing to examine the charges objectively.
By dragging the Tribal community into a discussion that did not warrant caste scrutiny, the show perpetuated prejudices against marginalised groups. CJP’s complaint called out this harmful narrative, emphasising the irresponsibility of using a popular platform to spread such biased rhetoric.
2. Zee News: Communal narratives take centre stage
In a heated prime-time spectacle aired on March 20, Zee News turned a heinous crime into a polarising narrative with its segment on the Budaun double murder case. Over 11 relentless hours, the show, helmed by anchor Pradeep Bhandari, cast communal shadows on a tragedy that should have united people in grief. From labelling the incident a “Talibani style of murder” to grilling Muslim panellists with accusatory tones, the broadcast steered dangerously towards vilifying an entire community.
The CJP called out this sensationalism in a detailed complaint on March 27, denouncing the show’s repetitive, one-sided framing of the issue. The complaint criticised the channel for fanning religion-based tensions and disproportionately targeting the Muslim community. This was not news; it was divisive storytelling at its worst.
3. India TV: When Bangladesh’s crisis became India’s fearmongering
On August 14, 2024, CJP lodged a complaint against IndiaTV for its incendiary segment “Coffee Par Kurukshetra: बांग्लादेशी हिंदुओं को कौन बचाएगा?” aired on August 7. What began as a discussion on the political upheaval in Bangladesh and the plight of its Hindu minorities quickly spiralled into a fear-mongering narrative targeting Indian Muslims.
Amid the turbulence in Bangladesh following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus taking over an interim government, the show exploited real concerns about minorities to stoke paranoia. The panel, including figures like Pradeep Singh, Ashwini Upadhyay, and Shantanu Gupta, veered into conspiracy theories of a Muslim “takeover” of India. Terms like “Ghazwa-E-Hind” and “Jihadi” were carelessly thrown around, while the host, Saurabh Sharma, nurtured a narrative of Muslims changing India’s demographics.
CJP’s complaint highlighted how the segment turned legitimate concerns about safety into tools for spreading communal hatred and false alarms. Instead of focusing on ensuring peace for minorities across borders, the show chose to weaponise fear, dangerously blurring lines between reporting and incitement.
4. Times Now Navbharat: Vilifying Madrassas on Times Now Navbharat
On August 26, 2024, CJP lodged a complaint against Times Now Navbharat for its skewed coverage of madrassas in two controversial broadcasts aired on August 19. The shows in question—“Sankalp Rashtra Nirman Ka: कराची का लिटरेचर..भारत के मदरसों में क्या कर रहा?” and “Rashtravad: भारत का मदरसा…पालकस्तान का सिलेबस?”—focused on allegations made by Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). Kanoongo had accused Bihar’s government-funded madrassas of teaching radical material, including books allegedly printed in Pakistan, and called for their dissolution.
CJP’s complaint underscored the Islamophobic framing of the shows, where anchors presented madrassas as centres of extremism, branding them and their educators as adversaries of the nation. The language and tone perpetuated harmful stereotypes, portraying madrassas as breeding grounds for conspiracies while neglecting the diversity within Islamic education. Terms like “Kafir” were used negatively, vilifying Islamic beliefs and fostering an “us vs. them” mentality. The broadcasts further alienated the Muslim community by amplifying suspicion and fear, deepening social divisions.
By misrepresenting Islamic education and stoking distrust, the segments failed to engage with the issue impartially. Instead, they promoted a narrative that marginalised and demonised an entire community, contributing to a hostile and polarised social environment.
5. Times Now Navbharat: When art turned into an accusation
On September 9, 2024, CJP took issue with Times Now Navbharat for their segment, “Desh Ka Mood Meter: सनातन संस्कृति..कट्टरपंथियों के लिए सॉफ्ट टारगेट?,” aired on September 2. The broadcast used the arrest of Bengali Muslim singer Altaf Hussain in Assam as a launchpad for spreading divisive rhetoric against the Bengali Muslim community, often referred to as “Miyas.”
The controversy stemmed from a protest song by Hussain that highlighted discrimination against the “Miyas.” His arrest under laws related to promoting enmity gained political traction after Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma accused him of attempting to distort the Assamese Bihu festival into a “Miya Bihu.” Times Now Navbharat’s segment amplified this narrative, posing loaded questions about whether Hindu festivals were under attack and accusing a so-called “Jihadi syndicate” of a communal conspiracy.
CJP’s complaint condemned the channel’s biased reporting and its role in promoting inflammatory rhetoric. By turning an issue of artistic expression and cultural identity into a narrative of extremism, the show perpetuated harmful stereotypes, fanning tensions instead of fostering dialogue.
6. IndiaTV: Brewing bias on Coffee Par Kurukshetra
On October 21, 2024, CJP filed a complaint against IndiaTV and its host, Saurav Sharma, for yet another divisive episode of “Coffee Par Kurukshetra”. Titled “यूपी में पत्थरबाजों की फौज कहां से आई? UP Bahraich Violence | CM Yogi”, the 34-minute episode used the Bahraich violence in Uttar Pradesh as a springboard to propagate anti-Muslim theories and spread divisive rhetoric.
With guests like Professor Sangeet Ragi, Pradeep Singh, and Shantanu Gupta, the show painted Muslim-majority areas as “sensitive” and attempted to deepen existing prejudices against the community. The discussion not only amplified Islamophobic propaganda but also urged Hindus to oppose practices like the Azaan, portraying the Muslim community as a threat to harmony. The deliberate framing of the discussion sowed mistrust, as the host and panellists consistently reinforced negative stereotypes about Muslim demographics, festivals, and religious practices.
CJP’s complaint emphasised how the show contributed to polarisation and stoked communal tensions, creating a harmful environment for coexistence. What should have been a platform for constructive dialogue became a tool for spreading mistrust and hostility.
Orders received by the NBDSA
- Times Now Navbharat’s ‘Mazaar Jihad’ claims pulled for spreading hate
CJP’s complaint against Times Now Navbharat’s ‘Operation Mazaar’ broadcast, which aired on May 22, 2023, was decided upon by the NBDSA on November 6, 2024. The show, laden with unsubstantiated claims and divisive language like ‘Mazaar jihad’ and ‘land jihad,’ was found to fuel communal tensions without presenting any credible evidence. The broadcaster’s failure to report impartially and include all sides of the story violated journalistic standards, prompting the NBDSA to issue a clear warning, stressing that future violations would lead to more severe consequences.
In addition to the warning, the NBDSA ordered the immediate removal of the controversial video from Times Now Navbharat’s website and YouTube. The decision underscored the importance of responsible media practices, holding the broadcaster accountable for spreading misinformation. The ruling was a powerful reminder that media outlets must adhere to ethical guidelines, especially when covering sensitive topics that have the potential to sow religious discord.
2. Times Now Navbharat’s divisive debate show removed for threatening social harmony
In a decisive move against harmful media practices, the NBDSA acted on CJP’s complaint against a Times Now Navbharat debate show aired on May 22, 2023, titled “बाबा की सनातन शपथ…भड़काऊ पथ पर जमीयत! | Hindu Rashtra | Bageshwar Sarkar Vs Hasan Madni.” The show, which was centred on a speech by Hasan Madni, quickly devolved into a communal debate, where participants promoted a Hindu nationalist agenda while vilifying the Muslim community. With divisive rhetoric on full display, the debate turned into a platform for extreme Hindutva views, allowing one panellist to pressure a Muslim participant into chanting “Jai Shree Ram” to prove his secularism. The host’s failure to intervene only amplified the hostile atmosphere, which was further exacerbated by anti-Muslim text displayed throughout the broadcast.
The NBDSA through its November 6 order found the broadcaster in violation of ethical guidelines, specifically the requirement for anchors to maintain objectivity and prevent the propagation of extreme views. The authority issued a stern warning to Times Now Navbharat, advising them to be more responsible in selecting panellists for future debates, ensuring that discussions remain balanced and do not endanger social harmony. In addition, the NBDSA ordered the removal of the contentious video from the broadcaster’s website and YouTube, with confirmation of the action required within seven days. This ruling highlighted the importance of responsible broadcasting in maintaining societal peace, sending a clear message about the dangers of airing divisive content.
3. NBDSA slams Times Now Navbharat for divisive coverage of Madrassas
The NBDSA addressed CJP’s complaint against the Times Now Navbharat debate show “Rashtravad: मदरसों पर नकेल, नहीं चलेगा विदेशी फंडिंग का खेल?” which aired on May 22, 2024. The show, centred on a survey by the Uttar Pradesh government about alleged illegal madrassas, was found to have distorted the findings and propagated a polarizing narrative. The host’s provocative questions, such as whether madrassas receiving foreign funding should be shut down, and the inflammatory statements made by panellists linking madrassas to terrorism without credible evidence, were deemed violations of broadcasting standards. The NBDSA condemned the broadcaster for pushing an unfounded and divisive agenda, which breached the principles of impartiality, objectivity, and respect for religious harmony.
As a result, Times Now Navbharat was censured for distorting facts and failing to maintain a neutral stance during the debate. The NBDSA issued an advisory, urging the broadcaster to adhere strictly to ethical standards in future broadcasts. Additionally, the show was ordered to be removed from all platforms within seven days, and the broadcaster was instructed to confirm this action to the NBDSA. This ruling underscored the responsibility of media outlets to handle sensitive topics with care, ensuring that discussions remain fair, accurate, and do not incite religious or communal tensions.
4. Times Now Navbharat’s Gyanvapi Survey coverage found communally biased
In a sharp rebuke, the NBDSA addressed CJP’s complaint against the Times Now Navbharat show “Rashtravad | Gyanvapi Survey के बाद ‘ज्ञानवापी आंदोलन’” aired on July 24, 2023. The complaint highlighted the one-sided narrative presented by the host, Rakesh Pandey, who painted the Muslim community in a suspicious light while questioning their motives behind opposing the ASI survey. The provocative and speculative questions, including references to a presumed Hindu temple beneath the mosque, created a divisive atmosphere, violating reporting guidelines for sensitive, ongoing court cases. The host’s biased approach, including calling the parties involved “Hindu Paksh” and “Muslim Paksh,” added to the communal tone of the debate.
The NBDSA censured Times Now Navbharat for failing to uphold broadcasting standards of impartiality and neutrality. The broadcaster was advised to avoid turning sensitive legal matters into a platform for communal division, especially when the issue was sub judice. In addition to the admonition, the NBDSA ordered the immediate removal of the video from the channel’s website and YouTube, with confirmation of the action required within seven days. This ruling underlined the importance of responsible media coverage in maintaining harmony and respect for judicial processes in the country.
A call for responsible journalism
In 2024, the media landscape was marked by an alarming rise in complaints against broadcasters for perpetuating biased, communal, and sensationalist narratives. The year highlighted the significant role of responsible journalism in shaping public perception, especially when dealing with sensitive issues that can exacerbate societal divisions. Through the efforts of organisations like Citizens for Justice and Peace, these breaches of broadcasting standards were brought to light, urging media outlets to reflect on their practices and the far-reaching consequences of their content. The actions taken by the National Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) underscore the importance of adhering to ethical guidelines and maintaining impartiality in the pursuit of truth. Moving forward, it remains crucial for media houses to not only fulfil their responsibility of informing the public but to do so with integrity, fostering unity rather than discord in a diverse and fragile society.
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