The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has ordered News18 India to remove its controversial interview with Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, widely known as Bageshwar Baba, within seven days for allegedly promoting superstition, religious disharmony, and blind faith.
The ruling, issued on November 6, follows a complaint by Indrajeet Ghorpade, who claimed that the July 10, 2023, interview titled Baba Bageshwar Exclusive Interview violated NBDSA’s standards against content that fosters superstition and religious intolerance. In the interview, Shastri made statements about transforming India into a Hindu state, enforcing the phrase “Sita Ram” for residents, and alleging that Islam instructs its followers to trap Hindu girls in “love jihad” and harm them.
According to Justice (retd) AK Sikri, the NBDSA Chairperson, Shastri’s comments during the broadcast promoted superstition and were divisive. “The seer who was invited… made several claims during the broadcast, which promoted superstition,” Justice Sikri stated. “Several statements were made by the seer concerning Hindu Rashtra and religion, which were divisive in nature.”
The NBDSA questioned why News18 India chose to feature Shastri, who is known for his polarizing views. In response, News18 defended its decision, stating Shastri had been a prominent public figure involved in various yatras, adding “news value” to the interview. News18 argued that the anchor attempted to steer away from communal comments and framed Shastri’s statements as personal beliefs. However, the NBDSA underscored that broadcasters are accountable for guests’ remarks on their platforms, as per both the NBDSA guidelines and a Bombay High Court ruling.
Ghorpade’s complaint urged the NBDSA to hold News18 accountable for allowing inflammatory remarks on air, saying that broadcasters are responsible for vetting guests to prevent the spread of harmful views. The NBDSA concluded that News18’s broadcast had breached its Code of Ethics, which prohibits content promoting superstition and fostering community disharmony.
Represented by Senior Legal Counsel Puneesh Kochar, News18 now faces the NBDSA’s directive to remove the interview from all platforms to prevent further spread of the controversial remarks.
