The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has cautioned NDTV over its use of the term “thook jihad” in a December 2024 news programme, saying the phrase was used in a “generalised and stereotypical manner” that implicitly linked an isolated incident to the Muslim community.
The complaint related to a report aired by NDTV about a viral video from Meerut, in which a man was allegedly seen spitting on rotis while preparing them. During the coverage, the channel reportedly used the phrase “thook (spit) jihad” and suggested that similar incidents were being reported from different places.
NBDSA Says Coverage Violated Guidelines
In an order dated May 19, NBDSA Chairperson Justice A. K. Sikri said that while the incident itself was serious and deserved media attention, the way it was framed raised concerns.
“The sweeping generalization of this incident as ‘thook jihad’ and the suggestion that this was not an isolated incident, but was a widespread occurrence, without substantiating the same, amounted to a violation of the Code of Conduct,” the NBDSA said.
The authority stated that such reporting violated broadcaster guidelines against racial and religious stereotyping.
Complaint Alleged Communal Colouring of Incident
The complaint was filed by advocate Utkarsh Mishra, who argued that using the term “jihad” gave a communal angle to what appeared to be an isolated act.
He also alleged that the programme suggested a larger pattern without evidence and violated rules against hate speech and communal reporting.
According to the complaint, the broadcast included an interview of the accused conducted by a private person, but it was presented in a way that resembled a police inquiry. The complainant also claimed the version aired was incomplete.
NDTV Says Report Focused on Hygiene, Public Health
In response, NDTV told the NBDSA that its report focused on issues of food hygiene, public health and anti-social behaviour. The channel argued that the programme was based on material already circulating publicly.
NDTV further said the use of the word “jihad” reflected an ongoing public discussion and was not intended to target any specific religious group. It also informed the authority that the programme had already been removed.
However, the NBDSA rejected NDTV’s argument that no community was referenced.
“Even in the absence of explicit attribution, the use of the ‘jihad’ in the report referred to a particular community,” the authority observed.
No Penalty, But Warning Issued
Since NDTV had already taken down the programme, the NBDSA decided not to impose any penalty.
Instead, the authority closed the complaint by issuing a caution to the broadcaster, asking it to avoid sweeping generalisations in future and remain consistent with the principles of the broadcasting code of conduct.
The term “thook jihad” has been criticised by civil rights groups and fact-checkers as a conspiracy theory often used by Hindutva groups to portray Muslims as deliberately contaminating food served to Hindus.
