Calls are growing for the arrest of Suresh Chavanke, the editor of Sudharshan News, known for his frequent anti-Muslim rants, over the airing of a provocative news program that showed morphed and incendiary visuals of a missile attack on the dome of Masjid an-Nabawi in Madina, the holy city of Muslims.
Madariya Sufi Foundation, a Mumbai-based NGO has filed a police complaint against the channel and Chavanke under section 153A, 295A, 505, and 34 of IPC.
According to the complaint, besides the visuals, the said news debate featured other objectionable material in the debate. The complaint has been filed against the panelists too.
Haji Mohd Sameer, associated with the NGO said they have submitted documents with evidence seeking FIR at Kashimira Police station near Mumbai against Chavanke and Sudharshan News for “disturbing, insulting and provoking visuals of a missile attack on Holy dome at Madina Sharif”.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader and national spokesperson, Waris Pathan called for Chavanke’s arrest under the NSA.
“Editorof Sudarshan newschannel @SureshChavhanke must be arrested under NSA or atleast U/S 295A 153 IPC. He is a hate monger &habitual offender who is trying to create communal disharmony&hurting religious sentiments by broadcasting blasphemous news repeatedly #BanSudarshanNews (sic),” he tweeted. Editorof Sudarshan newschannel @SureshChavhanke must be arrested under NSA or atleast U/S 295A 153 IPC.
He is a hate monger &habitual offender who is trying to create communal disharmony&hurting religious sentiments by broadcasting blasphemous news repeatedly#BanSudarshanNews pic.twitter.com/5YGom6aL29— Waris Pathan (@warispathan) May 18, 2021
A few days ago the channel’s show, ‘Bindas Bol – आओ इजराइल का साथ दें, कल की लड़ाई का साथी है इजराइल’ (Come support Israel, Israel is the partner of tomorrow’s fight), aired the inciting graphics, depicting the bombing of Islam’s second holiest place, while calling its viewers to support Israel, arguing that the country will stand with India in its future wars. Statement: Inside the Haramain strongly condemns a stunt played by an Indian News Channel showing the destruction of the Green Dome at Masjid Al Nabawi, Madinah in an animation while covering the Israeli aggressions against the occupied Palestinian Territories— Haramain Sharifain (@hsharifain) May 17, 2021 @SudarshanNewsTV has used a photo of Al Masjid and Nabawi Medina, an old photo of Gaza, with graphics of bombing the mosque.
Tipu Sultan Party request to @dgpup @Uppolice immediate arrest @SureshChavhanke and Ban Sudarshan News #BanSudarshanNews pic.twitter.com/jIz8PB5fR8— Tipu Sultan Party ٹیپو سلطان پارٹی (@TSP4India) May 18, 2021
Chavhanke and his channel have a history of inciting violence against Muslims and spewing misinformation about Islam. Last year, the supreme court had restrained Sudarshan News from telecasting episodes of the channel’s show that claimed to unveil an alleged conspiracy behind how “Muslims have infiltrated the civil services”. The court had pointed out that the program was “insidious” and was telecast with the intent and purpose of vilifying Muslims.
