Indian News Channel Fined By UK Regulator For Hate Speech Against Pakistan

Kuala Lumpur: Republic TV, India’s one of the most controversial news channels, was fined by the UK’s telecom regulator body for spreading hate among the communities and using the foul languages through its so-called tv debate show. United Kingdom’s communications regulator Office of Communications (Ofcom) was slapped with a 200,000 pounds (RM110,376) fine. The body also asked the channel to air an apology for breaking the country’s rules and regulations. 

The telecom body said in its statement, Republic TV’s Hindi news channel ‘Republic Bharat’ violated the norms and conditions of its broadcasting in their “Poochta Hai Bharat” (India Is Asking) debate, which was aired on 6 September 2019. 

The statement can be read that content of the debate show was involved “offensive language”, “uncontextualised hate speech” and “abusive or derogatory treatment of individuals, groups, religions or communities”.

The abusive and hate content was used against India’s arch-rival country Pakistan and their people by Republic TV, which is also a pro-Modi news channel. 

According to the statement, the action was taken against the channel after using derogatory language by tv anchor Arnab Goswami, who is also managing director and editor-in-chief of Republic Media Network, and his panellists during ‘India’s Chandrayaan 2 space mission” debate.  

The statement said that during the tv debate, anchor Goswami and panel used; Their (Pakistan) doctors, scientists, leaders, politicians and even sportsmen all are terrorists. 

It also said that one of the panellists during the show had said that all the Pakistani people are “baggers”. The show also referred to Pakistan as “Paki”, which was highly offensive and racist content. 

It’s amusing that even as #ArnabGoswami quietly apologised 280 times, at all hrs of the day and night, for spreading his vile bile, as instructed by the UK regulator, propagandists & trolls are spinning his surrender as a great act of patriotism & defiance by their hero! pic.twitter.com/spcjTtoiXv

— Nikhil J Alva (@njalva) December 23, 2020

Meanwhile, the UK telecom regulatory body also claimed that Goswami has been aired an apology 280 times on its channel From 26 February to 9 April 2020.