Allahabad High Court on Wednesday restrained Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera from broadcasting an investigative film on hate crimes against Muslims by Hindu nationalists in India.
The court directed to stop the telecast of the film India… Who lit the Fuse? until the issues raised in a petition “are adjudicated”.
“Considering the evil consequences that are likely to occur on the telecast/broadcast of film … we are of the view that the broadcast/telecast of the film in question be deferred pending consideration of the cause in the present petition,” the court said
The court has also directed the Union government and the authorities constituted under it “to take appropriate measures warranted in law to ensure that the film is not allowed to be telecast/broadcast unless its contents are examined by the authorities, duly constituted in law for the purpose, and necessary certification/authorisation is obtained from the competent authority.”
The Union and state governments have been directed to “secure social harmony and protect the security and interest of the Indian State.”
The network claimed the film is part of Al Jazeera’s Point Blank investigation series in a report.
“Backed by testimony and documents, it uncovers the activities of Hindu supremacist outfits, such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the far-right ideological mentor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),” it said.
In January, BBC’s two-part documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi was banned in India. BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai have been raided, and Indian authorities have accused the network of tax violations.
