Hindi TV news channels' favourite villain the Muslim is back—Mitthoo Mian to Muharram
Mohammed Siraj may have been one of the heroes of the Indian cricket team's Test victory against England at Edgbaston, but on Hindi news channels, other Muslims are seen as mischief makers.
Mullah, mian, and bhai jaan are back. So is 'love jihad'. Across Hindi television news channels, Muslims have been making news – for all the wrong reasons. So what else is new?
Now, they're back to Hindu-Muslim hai-hai. Here are some examples:
The channels carry news about Kavadiya processions in Uttarakhand, where Muslim dhaba owners are accused of changing their names and serving food to the kavadiyas – with onions in it (News 18 India).
They spit into milk too, said a Hindu panellist on a TV9 Bharatvarsh discussion about Bageshwar Dham's demand for Hindu unity and a Hindu Rashtra at a Hindu sammelan (convention) in Patna. The TV news anchor allowed such remarks to pass on his show, without a 'meow'.
The dham's appeal to start a 'Bhagwa-e-Hind' (Saffron India) in Bihar – as opposed to the concept of 'Ghazwa-e Hind' (Conquest of India) held by certain Muslim groups, was highlighted by several Hindi channels.
Muslims in Bihar were seen and heard objecting to 'SIR' in Bihar. In 'Musalmaan ka haal kya?' News 24 spoke to Muslims who visited the offices of the Election Commission during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and found that they had a long list of complaints. Wonder why only Muslims are being asked to speak on SIR. Are other communities untouched by this process?
Muharram processions, which saw communal clashes, were widely covered by Hindi news channels, with many of them squarely blaming the violence on Muslims.
Finally, to 'conversion king' Jamaluddin of Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, who calls himself Chhangur Baba. Along with his wife Neetu (Nasreen), he allegedly preyed on many unsuspecting Hindu girls, forced them to change their religion—and was willing to pay a high price for it.
Chhangur Baba controversy
Chhangur Baba, a self-styled 'Pir Baba', converted Hindi news. Channels were captivated by his alleged crimes. 'Mitthoo mia' ran a Rs 100 crore countrywide operation, said Times Now Navbharat. His empire stretched from conversions of 'Hindu betiyan (daughters)' to racketeering and money laundering, reported News 24.
There was a 'fixed' rate card for the Hindu girls: Rs 15-16 lakh were paid to Brahmin girls/families for converting to Islam, claimed news channels such as Aaj Tak and Zee News.
The alleged 'baba' adopted the 'façade of an influential godman'' said CNN News 18. He had a taste for 'high-end cars and bungalows,'' added the English news channel.
Zee News claimed he had travelled to 50 countries, especially those in the Middle East.
Alleged criminals like him in UP know what happens next: JCBs demolish their homes. So, it came to pass on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bulldozers in Balrampur reduced mian's mansion to mitti (dust) – his compound, reportedly home to 50+ families, was destroyed before our eyes as TV reporters huffed and puffed up the stairs to the rooftops to share the clearest images (Times Now Navbharat).
The baba's home was thrown open to reporters, who gave us a guided tour from room to room. On India TV, we saw the lobby, Chhangur Baba's bedroom, and three other bedrooms that were 'very luxurious' according to the reporter.
'Such a big kitchen,' she added. 'Few homes have one this large…'
Alleged evidence of exotic massages surfaced too: 'Look at this oil, it's for strengthening the body – it's from Saudi Arabia,' said a Zee News reporter as she examined a shelf full of bottles.
Also read: India's news channels turned Shefali Jariwala's death into spectacle and speculation
Muharram violence
Muharram communal clashes were the other big picture story on Hindi TV news. From Bihar and UP to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the channels shared CCTV footage and video grabs of people identified as Muslims, clashing with police, pelting stones, and wielding sticks.
Aaj Tak found protesters near Hindu temples in Hajipur; NDTV India reported on communal clashes in Kathihar; India TV was in Lakhimpur and Ujjain, where the horse 'Zuljanah', along with the procession, went down a banned route. Police lathi charges followed.
From Sitamarhi, News 24 reported a 'maha sangram' (heavy clashes), along with 'maar peet (violence)' in Bhagalpur between the two communities. 'Kya ho raha hai?' asked News 24.
Eyewitness accounts came from Hindu families, with the occasional Muslim voice. On Republic TV, Hindus said a 'white powder' was thrown at them, although its composition remained a mystery.
According to the families, the Muslims started all the fights—they singled out Hindu homes. 'Our children hid inside, they were scared,' said one man to Republic TV.
Muslims told news channels in Bhopal that they went down the usual route of the procession, unaware that the police had changed it. That led to clashes.
Also read: Indian Muslims must face the truth—Muslim countries don't care about them
'Udaipur Files' drama
Udaipur Files is a film about the tailor Kanhaiya Lal, who was brutally murdered in 2022 by two Muslims for allegedly sharing an anti-Muslim, inflammatory post. The accused were later arrested.
TV headline news said Muslims were now threatening the director and producer of the film. But 'the truth must come out,' insisted a Republic TV anchor. It's unclear what 'truth' he was referring to.
Kanhaiya's son said on Republic TV that he had not been threatened. But the film's director, Bharat Srinate, claimed that he had been abused on social media. Producer Amit Jani alleged 'deepfake' online bullying by Indian Muslims – as well as by agents of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Well, not a pretty picture. And from its trailers, the film is full of violence and Hindu-Muslim stereotypes.
The author tweets @shailajabajpai. Views are personal.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)
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