FIR lodged against Sudarshan News for promoting enmity

A first information report has been filed against Surdarshan News Editor-in-Chief and Chief Managing Editor Suresh Chavhanke in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. The sections deal with “promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth and over content to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public”, according to News18 report. Chavhanke has been hosting a series centred on Sambhal for his show Halla Bol. These include a two-part series headlined: Kya Sambhal Kashmir Banaya Ja Raha Hai? (Is Sambhal being turned into Kashmir?) About two days ago, it hosted a show titled, Hari Mandir Ka Sach, Jama Masjid Ka Jhooth. (The truth of Hari temple and the lie of Jama mosque.) Chavhanke asks in the show why Sambhal has not been turned into a dham, or religious abode, for Hindus. He begins the show by stating that it is at Sambhal where Kalki, Vishnu’s reincarnation in Kalyug, would take birth. The show also has him playing a clip of a Jama Masjid chief who states that if Chavhanke is referring to the Jama mosque as a temple then he is wrong and that he is welcome to come to the mosque only if he wishes to do namaaz there. Another dubiously edited clip (note the jump cut at -52.27) has the chief stating that Chavhanke will not be allowed to enter Sambhal.

Chavhanke prides himself on running “a socio-patriotic news channel”.

 This is not the first time though that Sudarshan News has sparked a controversy for pedaling hate-filled propaganda against Muslims. Chavhanke also had an FIR filed against him by an employee on charges of sexual harassment.