Today: 11 July 2025
22 December 2020
1 min read

UK media regulator fines Republic TV for hate speech

The decision comes after an episode of Poochta Hai Bharat, a daily current affairs discussion programme in Hindi aired on 6 September 2019, was found to have failed to comply with their broadcasting rules…reports Asian Lite News

UK’s communications regulator Ofcom has fined a £20,000 penalty on Worldview Media Network Limited, which operates Republic Bharat in the UK.

The decision comes after an episode of Poochta Hai Bharat, a daily current affairs discussion programme in Hindi aired on 6 September 2019, was found to have failed to comply with their broadcasting rules, BizAsia reported.

Republic Bharat is a television channel in the UK that broadcasts rolling news and current affairs to the Hindi speaking community.

Ofcom’s official statement says that the said episode of the programme presented by the journalist Arnab Goswami was focused on Indo-Pakistani relations. India’s technological advancements including space research were discussed in comparison to Pakistan’s, the on-going dispute between Pakistan and India over Kashmir, and Pakistan’s alleged involvement in terrorist activities against Indian targets were discussed.

Ofcom’s Executive found that this programme contained uncontextualized hate speech and that this content was potentially highly offensive, breaching broadcasting rules, BizAsia reported.

Worldview Media argued that the programme ‘did not promote terrorism or hatred and it certainly did not promote or justify hatred in any way.’ The broadcaster said that the purpose of the debate was ‘to showcase how India has moved forward, while Pakistan in the same period has failed to develop at the same pace and how terror groups had been allowed to operate in Pakistan.’

It added that this was an “emotionally charged” discussion and that the content was based on evidence that “Pakistan was trying to infiltrate terrorists, threaten Indian sovereignty and destabilize India,” BizAsia reported.

Ofcom considered that there were insufficient contextual factors to justify the hate speech included in this programme. Therefore, it broke Rule 3.2 of the broadcasting code, which warranted the imposition of statutory sanctions.

Also read:India Suspends all flights from UK

Previous Story

Dubai Ready To Face New Economic Challenges

Next Story

Jerusalem sees battered tourism amid Covid-19

Latest from -Top News

Pakistan, Turkey Cement Defence Ties

Turkey and Pakistan aim to enhance bilateral trade volume to USD $ 5billion, especially in defence, trade, energy, and infrastructure sectors….reports Asian Lite News Turkey and Pakistan have further solidified their longstanding,

US Issues Iran Travel Alert

The statement came amid the recent tensions between the US and Iran following the 12 days of escalating conflict between Iran and Israel…reports Asian Lite News The US Department of State announced

No Lifetime Visas, Says UAE

The UAE’s ICP has dismissed media claims of lifetime Golden Visas for select nationalities, calling them inaccurate…reports Asian Lite News The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) has

Netanyahu Nominates Trump for Nobel

Netanyahu hails Trump’s role in Middle East diplomacy with Nobel nomination gesture…reports Asian Lite News Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, handing
Go toTop