The UK’s broadcasting regulatory authority, the Office of Communications(Ofcom), has imposed a £20,000 fine on the Indian TV channel Republic TVfor offensive language and hate speech against Pakistanis.
Ofcom found an episode of the evening primetime show ‘Poochta Hai Bharat’hosted by Arnab Goswami that aired on Republic TV on 6 September 2019featuring “comments made by the host and some of his guests that amountedto hate speech against Pakistani people, and derogatory and abusivetreatment of Pakistani people. The content was also potentially offensiveand was not sufficiently justified by the context”.——————————
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During the show, the Indian guests stated that “all Pakistanis areterrorists and their children are militants”, to which Goswami added, “Wemake scientists, you make terrorists”.
Ofcom noted that “The host and the Indian guests dominated the discussion,with the Pakistani guests attempting to respond but largely being shouteddown by the presenter and Indian guests”.——————————
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It added that the content “spread, incited, promoted, and justified suchintolerance towards Pakistani people among viewers,” adding that, “thesestatements are based on their nationality alone”.
The regulatory authority further stated,
We considered, however, that the statements made by a retired major-generalfrom the Indian Army which clearly threatened that the Indian militarywould attack Pakistani civilians in their homes, were an expression ofhatred and desire to kill by a figure of authority.
