The IPS Association, which is the central body of the Indian Police Service officers condemned a promotional video posted by Sudarshan News TV Editor-in-chief Suresh Chavhanke which targeted members of the Muslim community joining India’s civil services.
The trailer of an upcoming news show to be aired on Sudarshan News TV has drawn outrage on social media.
Sudarshan News TV channel is known for its proximity to the Sangh Parivar and was widely criticized for spreading Islamophobia and hatred against religious minorities through TV debates.
“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 IPS Association said.
The Indian Police Foundation (IPF), a multidisciplinary think-tank based in Delhi called it “pure venom” and asked the News Broadcasting Standards Authority, the Uttar Pradesh Police and government authorities to take action against it.
On Monday, Chavhanke shared the promo of his “expose’”on “UPSC Jihad” on Twitter with the caption, “Exposing Muslim infiltration into the most important pillars of democracy and big executive positions.”
The right-wing journalist had tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in his tweet.
“How come suddenly the number of Muslims has increased in IAS and IPS? What is the secret of them getting the highest marks and ranks in one of the toughest exams? Imagine if the jihadi of Jamia will be your district collectors and secretaries in ministries, what will happen then? Watch our biggest expose on bureaucracy jihad this Friday,” he asks in the video.
According to news agency IANS, Jamia Millia Islamia has called for a meeting to discuss if legal action can be initiated against Sudarshan News TV channel.
“We have called a meeting to discuss the next course of action against the TV channel for airing mala fide content. Every student of Jamia’s Residential Coaching Academy who has cleared the UPSC exam should file an FIR against the channel for its hateful content,” Najma Akhtar, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, told IANS.
Many civil services officers and former bureaucrats joined the chorus of outrage on Twitter against Chavhanke.
RTI activist Saket Gokhale has written to Chairman, UPSC asking to take an urgent stand against the communal dog-whistle instigated by Chavhanke against Muslim UPSC candidates and officers.
He also started a campaign urging people to register a police complaint against Chavhanke for the video.
