Centre issues showcause notice to Sudarshan News over ‘UPSC Jihad’

The Narendra Modi government told the Supreme Court today that it has issued a showcause notice to Hindu nationalist TV channel Sudarshan News over “UPSC Jihad”, a 10-episode series alleging that Muslims have conspired to infiltrate the civil services with funding from “terror-linked organisations”.

The notice has been issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act for violating the programme code. The channel has to respond to the notice by September 28.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and KM Joseph was hearing a petition filed against the show by advocate Firoz Iqbal Khan, who argued that its broadcast would be derogatory to Muslims entering the civil services.

On September 11, Sudarshan News aired the first episode of “UPSC Jihad”. It claimed that former prime minister Manmohan Singh had indirect links with ISIS, Osama Bin Laden and Pakistan.

On September 15, the Supreme Court temporarily restrained the channel from airing the remaining six episodes of “UPSC Jihad”. It said the “rabid” and “insidious” show appeared to “vilify” the Muslim community.

The restraint has not been lifted.

The counter-affidavit filed by Sudarshan News asked the court to lift the stay order on the show.

The next hearing in the matter is slated for October 5.

***

The media must be free and fair, uninfluenced by personal, corporate or state interests. That is why you, the public, need to pay to keep news free. Support independent media by subscribing to Newslaundry today.