The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has issued a warning to NDTV following the channel’s use of the term “jihad” in a report linking a spitting incident to the Muslim community. This decision stems from a complaint regarding a December 2024 broadcast that covered a viral video from Meerut. The video depicted an individual allegedly spitting on rotis during preparation, which was described in the report using the phrase “thook (spit) jihad”.
The NBDSA, chaired by Justice AK Sikri, addressed the complaint in an order dated May 19. It criticized NDTV for broadly characterizing the incident as ‘thook jihad’ and insinuating a broader pattern without evidence. This characterization, according to the NBDSA, violated guidelines against racial and religious stereotyping as outlined in the broadcaster’s Code of Conduct.
The complaint, filed by advocate Utkarsh Mishra, argued that the use of “jihad” and implications of a widespread pattern gave a communal angle to an isolated event. This, Mishra contended, breached guidelines against hate speech and communal reporting.
The NBDSA also observed that the broadcast included an interview with the accused, conducted by a private individual rather than law enforcement, and suggested that the aired version was incomplete.
In response to the complaint, NDTV stated that their coverage focused on public health, food hygiene, and anti-social behavior, emphasizing that the term “jihad” reflected ongoing public discourse and was not meant to target any community specifically. They also noted that the content was voluntarily removed.
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However, the NBDSA dismissed NDTV’s argument that no specific community was targeted, asserting that the term “jihad” carries inherent implications. The authority stated, “Even without explicit attribution, the use of ‘jihad’ in the report implied a reference to a particular community.”
Given that NDTV had already removed the contentious content, the NBDSA chose not to impose a penalty but issued a caution instead. The authority urged NDTV to avoid sweeping generalizations in future broadcasts to align with the principles of the Code of Conduct.
