Delhi HC Stays Broadcast of Sudarshan News Show on ‘Infiltration of Muslims’ in Civil Services

New Delhi, 29 August 2020 [Fik/News Sources]: The Delhi High Court Friday stayed the broadcast of a controversial show by Hindutva anchor Suresh Chavake on his channel Sudarshan News, which claimed to be an “expose” on the “infiltration of Muslims” in the Civil Services.

The stay order was passed by a single-judge bench of Justice Navin Chawla, on a plea filed by the students of Jamia Millia Islamia.

Advocate Shadan Farasat for the petitioners had sought prohibition of the proposed broadcast of a program titled “Bindas Bol” on Sudarshan News, scheduled to be aired at 8 pm today, allegedly containing content that may defame, attack and incite hatred against Jamia Milia Islamia, its alumni and the Muslim community at large.

“The proposed broadcast, if allowed to go ahead, would present a clear and present danger to the security of the Petitioners, as well as that of other students and alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia including those who cleared the Civil Services Exam in 2020, as well as the Muslim community at large, and would leave them open to the imminent threat of violence, including the possibility of lynching. This would amount to an extremely egregious violation of the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed to the Petitioners under Article 21 of the Constitution,” the Petitioners was quoted by Live Law as saying.

The promo of the show shared by the channel’s editor-in-chief Suresh Chavhanke with hashtag ‘UPSC Jihad’ has attracted massive outrage from several quarters. On August 26, Chavhanke had tweeted the trailer of his upcoming show, which he claimed was an “expose” on the “infiltration of Muslims” in the Civil Services.

In the video, he called those passing out of Jamia’s Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) and clearing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as “Jamia ke Jihadi”.

On Thursday, Jamia Millia Islamia wrote to the Union Education Ministry asking them to take action against Sudarshan News channel and its editor-in-chief Chavhanke for “tarnishing” the image of the university.

Jamia V-C Najma Akhtar said that Chavhanke had given a new “secular definition” of jihadi: “We don’t want to give them too much importance. As far as our students are concerned, 30 students from RCA were selected this time out of which 16 are Muslims and 14 are Hindus. Since they were all called jihadis, it means 16 were Muslim jihadis and 14 others were Hindu jihadis. India has been given a new secular definition of jihadis.”

The IPS Association also termed the show “irresponsible”. “A news story targeting candidates in civil services on the basis of religion is being promoted by Sudarshan TV. We condemn the communal and irresponsible piece of journalism,” the association tweeted.

Responding to the allegations, Chavhanke had said he would say what he has to on his show on Friday night. “I don’t know if there are Hindus (in RCA). Those opposing the word jihadi should first answer if they think it is an abuse. I maintain my stand and want to ask how their (Muslim) numbers are increasing in civil services. It’s because of them being given back door favour, option of choosing Islamist studies, Urdu language, etc. If my show is found unconstitutional or doesn’t meet the standard of broadcast authority, then let there be action against me.”