The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has issued cautionary orders to several TV news channels for using the term “jihad” in programmes linked to individual criminal allegations. The regulator held that such usage must not be made loosely and must comply with standards of accuracy, impartiality, and communal harmony.
NBDSA Chairperson Justice A.K. Sikri delivered the orders while hearing complaints against Zee News, Times Now Navbharat, News18 India and NDTV India. The complaints were filed by advocates Utkarsh Mishra, Indrajeet Ghorpade, and Matin Mujawar.
What the Complaints Stated
The complainants argued that expressions such as “food jihad”, “thook jihad”, and “QR code jihad” gave a communal colour to isolated incidents. They contended that the broadcasts lacked credible evidence of any organised or ideological motive.
Utkarsh Mishra submitted that, while working with the Institute of Perception Studies, they tracked nearly 465 broadcasts across channels promoting such narratives.
Standards Flagged by NBDSA
The complaints highlighted violations of the Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards, including:
- Accuracy and impartiality
- Maintenance of communal harmony
- Avoidance of content promoting hatred or disharmony
The NBDSA also noted a recurring pattern of channels using the term “jihad” in reports involving a specific community.
Zee News: “Food Jihad” Coverage
In one case, the NBDSA examined a Zee News programme concerning an incident in Kanpur involving allegations against a restaurant owner.
While permitting reporting of the incident, the NBDSA objected to the use of the term “food jihad” due to lack of supporting material indicating an organised motive.
The authority directed Zee News to edit or remove the objectionable content within seven days (order dated February 17). It cautioned that giving isolated incidents a broader communal angle could fuel disharmony.
Zee News: “QR Code Jihad” Broadcast
The NBDSA also reviewed a programme titled “Sambhal Hinsa ke baad QR Code Jihaad”.
Although the subject raised public interest concerns, the authority found no justification for using the term “jihad”. It directed the channel to remove the offending portions.
The NBDSA noted that the channel failed to attribute the term to any verified source, despite claiming it was part of public discourse.
Times Now Navbharat: “Thook Jihad” Reference
In a separate complaint, Times Now Navbharat used the phrase “thook jihad” while reporting alleged incidents.
The channel stated that it used the term only once and removed the broadcast after receiving the complaint. The NBDSA, therefore, did not undertake detailed examination but advised caution in future.
Wider Pattern and Proposed Guidelines
The NBDSA observed similar patterns in broadcasts by Zee Uttar Pradesh, Zee Bharat, News18 India, and NDTV India.
It stated that repeated misuse of the term “jihad” necessitates framing specific guidelines on its usage. These guidelines will supplement existing standards and past NBDSA orders.
Final Outcome
The NBDSA issued cautionary directions to the channels but did not impose any monetary penalties.
