Promotes religious disharmony: NBDSA directs News18 to delete Dhirendra Shastri interview

The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) on November 6 directed News18 India to delete its interview with Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, famously known as Bageshwar Baba, as it promotes superstition, religious disharmony and blind faith.

The NBDSA warned the news channel and directed it to delete the interview from all media platforms within seven days.

NBDSA Chairperson Justice (retd) AK Sikri observed,

"In the instant case, the seer who was invited by the broadcaster made several claims during the broadcast, which promoted superstition. Furthermore, during the broadcast, several statements were made by the seer concerning Hindu Rashtra and religion, which were divisive in nature, such as that in order to live in India it would be mandatory to say "Sita Ram" and that Islam asked men to trap young Hindu girls in love jihad and then kill them."

The complainant, Indrajeet Ghorpade, in his complaint filed last year raised concerns about a News18 India program titled 'Baba Bageshwar Exclusive Interview,' aired on July 10, 2023. It was alleged that the show violated self-regulation principles as per which broadcasters are required to avoid airing content that promotes or glorifies superstition and occultism.

According to the complaint, Shastri stated that he would transform the Republic of India, a secular nation, into a Hindu state, asserting that saying "Sita Ram" would be mandatory to live in India.

He also claimed he could predict election results using his supernatural powers and allegedly suggested that Islam instructs its followers to entrap girls in "love jihad" and kill them.

The complainant stated that the channel denied responsibility for its guest's statements, claiming it was not accountable. However, according to NBDSA guidelines and a Bombay High Court ruling, channels are responsible for their guests' remarks and should avoid inviting individuals likely to make inflammatory comments.

Ghorpade urged strong action against the broadcaster to emphasise that broadcasters are accountable for the views expressed by the guests or panelists they invite and provide a platform to.

NBDSA questioned the broadcaster as to why it had called such a person for an interview.

News18 responded that the seer had been a prominent news figure for months, leading yatras, making headlines, and even receiving threats from Bihar politician Tej Pratap Yadav, adding significant news value to his coverage.

The broadcaster explained that it had not questioned the seer’s supernatural claims. Instead, the seer himself made the statements in response to general questions about his past. The anchor attempted to discourage communal remarks, and when "Hindu Rashtra" was mentioned, the seer clarified it as a personal belief.

In its order, NBDSA noted that broadcasters have the editorial freedom to invite guests, but must adhere to the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards and specific guidelines for anchors in debates and programs

"Therefore, the broadcast violated the Specific Guidelines covering Reportage relating to Racial and Religious Harmony, Supernatural, Occultism and Paranormal and the Advisory on reportage spreading superstition, occultism & blind belief," it was observed.

NBDSA observed that programs promoting superstition and those fostering community disharmony should not be broadcast.

News18 was represented by its Senior Legal Counsel Puneesh Kochar.

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