TV Newsance 276: Hindu vs Muslim in Sambhal – who profits from communal tensions

This week on TV Newsance, we dissect how TV news channels covered the recent Sambhal riots. Did they try to cool tensions? Nope. Instead, usual suspects added fuel to the fire — shouting louder, polarising further.

But here’s the twist: voices of reason emerged from unlikely places. Rajat Sharma of India TV and Sudhir Chaudhry of Aaj Tak spoke against the obsession with temples under mosques. Also surprising was watching Arnab Goswami stand up for religious minorities, and question a government that uses religious issues to distract from economic failures. In Bangladesh, of course. Because in India Arnab will do as Modiji says — chup-chaap.

Meanwhile, Rubika Liyaquat stood up to political power and responded to a Samajwadi Party spokesperson’s threats with... sexism. Her antics were par for the course at News18, the channel owned by the richest man in the country. And, on NDTV, anchors were busy proving that their channel was a good investment by Adani, questioning anyone who dared critique the billionaire. 

Watch.