Rs 2 lakh fine for Zee News over inflammatory coverage of AMU protest, Palestine slogans

The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority has imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on Zee News for violating the broadcasting code of conduct in the channel’s coverage of Palestine solidarity slogans during a student protest at Aligarh Muslim University, LiveLaw reported.

The order was passed on September 11, on a complaint filed by Talha Mannan, an AMU alumnus and PhD scholar at Maulana Azad National Urdu University, against programmes aired on August 16, 2025, including “Deshhit: AMU में ‘फिलिस्तीन प्रेमी गैंग’.. ‘योगी स्टाइल’ में होगा इलाज!” and “DNA: फीस माफी वाले आंदोलन में फिलिस्तीन जिंदाबाद कहाँ से आ गया? Aligarh Muslim University.”

Mannan had addressed an approximately 18-minute speech during a peaceful protest held on August 12, 2025, against a fee hike and seeking restoration of the students’ union. He claimed that the channel selectively aired footage of the slogans to portray lawful expressions of solidarity with Palestine as criminal or anti-national conduct.

The NBDSA observed that Zee News had omitted the principal purpose of the agitation. It took note of inflammatory tickers such as “AMU में फिलिस्तीन प्रेमी गैंग” and “योगी स्टाइल में होगा इलाज”. It then directed Zee News to remove the impugned footage from its website, YouTube and other channel platforms, including hyperlinks providing access to the broadcasts. 

At the time of writing this report, the footage was still available on the Zee News YouTube channel.

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