The News Broadcasting Standards Authority has summoned Zee News over the special report of editor-in-chief, Sudhir Chaudhary on different ‘Jihad’ practiced in India. NBSA decided to act on the complaint filed by activist Saket Gokhale.

The NBSA has come to prima facie finding that the tone and tenor of the program were “divisive’ and the channel was certainly was “targeting a particular community, against the secular ethos of the country.

The program aired on March 11, 2020, became instantly controversial, getting backlash from Muslims and civil groups.“I filed a complaint in Feb. The @MIB_India sat on it for 3 months only to forward it to NBSA,” Saket Gokhale tweeted.

Gokhale in his complaint argued that the channel made a diagrammatic representation especially targeting the Muslims in Jammu.

The program breached the Specific Guideline Covering Reportage relating to Racial & Religious Harmony, at Clause 9 states that “Racial and religious stereotyping should be avoided” and “Caution should be exercised in reporting content which denigrates or is likely to offend the sensitivities of any racial or religious group or that may create religious intolerance or disharmony”

It has summoned two representatives from Zee News to remain present during a virtual hearing on November 26.

[READ SUMMONS]