NBDSA Pulls Up Zee News & Times Now Navbharat Over Broadcasts On 'Mehendi Jihad' And 'Love Jihad'

The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA), headed by Justice (Retd.) A.K. Sikri, has admonished Zee News for its programs on “Mehendi Jihad” and directed the removal of the videos from social media platforms, after finding them violative of the Code of Ethics.

In a separate order, the NBDSA found fault with Times Now Navbharat for using certain provocative tickers on 'Love Jihad' while reporting a Court judgment in an unlawful conversion case. Finding that the tickers introduced certain elements which were not part of the judgment, the NBDSA ordered their removal.

The orders were passed on complaints filed in October 2024 by activist Indrajeet Ghorpade, who alleged that the channels spread misinformation and amplified divisive propaganda.

Zee News - “Mehendi Jihad” Broadcasts

The complaint against Zee News concerned four programs that propagated the idea of a so-called “Mehendi Jihad.” The broadcasts alleged that Muslim Mehendi artists spat into Mehendi before applying it on Hindu women, and that Muslim men worked as Mehendi artists to obtain phone numbers of Hindu women with the ulterior motive of marrying them and converting them. The programs also amplified violent slogans and calls for a boycott of Muslim Mehendi artists made by certain groups.

Sample tickers from the shows included: “Mehendi jihad par de dana-dan,” “Aawedan nivedan nahi mane toh de dana-dan,” “Mehendi jihad ke khilaf lathth model launch,” “Lathi se lais rahenge, jihadiyon ko rokenge,” and “Pakde jane par sabak sikhaya jayega.”

According to the complaint, Zee News failed to fact-check the allegations, did not condemn threats and abuses directed against Muslim artists, ignored opposing viewpoints, and through its thumbnails, tickers, and headlines, contributed to spreading communal fear and hatred. While Zee News argued before the NBDSA that it was merely reporting statements of organisations, the Authority found that the tickers and presentation gave the impression that the channel itself was endorsing those claims. The NBDSA directed Zee News to remove the programs and “admonished” the channel to exercise caution in the future by including counter-views.

The order observed as follows :

"The broadcaster, while running these tickers did not issue any clarification that these were the statements made by third parties, nor any endorsement to the effect that these tickers did not represent the views of the broadcaster.

NBDSA observed that while it cannot comment on the subject of the broadcast itself, which is part of editorial discretion and is protected under the freedom of speech and expression, it was necessary at this juncture to remind the media of the role it plays as the fourth pillar of democracy in shaping public discourse. When dealing with potentially sensitive subject matters, it would behove the broadcasters to critically examine the content they air, to ensure that the same aligns with the journalistic standards outlined in the Code of Conduct."

Times Now Navbharat : “Love Jihad” Coverage

The complaint against Times Now Navbharat pertained to its reporting of a Bareilly Sessions Court judgment sentencing a Muslim man to life imprisonment for coercing a Hindu woman into marriage after religious conversion.

According to the complaint, Times Now Navbharat parroted the judge's words without journalistic scrutiny, omitted the woman's testimony, and further broadcast statements by BJP politicians that reinforced the “love jihad” narrative. The program was also accompanied by tickers such as: “Pyar ke jahaaz mein jihad ka tufaan,” “Love jihad par court ka sakht faisla,” “Jihadiyon ki mohabbat ka sach,” and “Jihadiyon ke iraadon par lagi mohar.”

The NBDSA was not impressed with the complainant's argument that the channel should have done an independent fact-check before reporting the judgment.

The NBDSA noted that the broadcasts narrated the court's findings, which in itself would not be objectionable. However, it found that Times Now Navbharat went beyond the judgment's narrative by introducing additional elements through sensational tickers. The Authority specifically pointed out the use of captions such as “UP mein Love jihad… toolkit Pakistani” and “Jhuthe naam ka afsana, maksad musalman banana”, which it held “did not fit the intended subject of the reportage.”

The Authority observed: “While telecasting a factual narration, the broadcaster went beyond the narrative in the judgment and introduced certain elements, which are not a part of the judgment, by using the tickers…which did not fit the intended subject of the reportage.” It therefore directed the channel to remove the offending tickers. At the same time, it concluded that apart from these captions, the narration of the judgment itself had not violated the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting.

Click here to read the order against Zee News

Click here to read the order against Times Now Navbharat