NEW DELHI: The INDIA Bloc, a group of political parties in India, has declared that it will boycott television shows hosted by specific news anchors. After a meeting of the INDIA bloc’s coordination committee, the list of news anchors to be boycotted was released.
The list of anchors who will face the boycott includes notable names in Indian media, such as Arnab Goswami of Republic TV, Sudhir Chaudhary of AajTak, Navika Kumar of Times Now/Times Now Navbharat, and others from various news channels.
This decision to boycott certain anchors has been framed as a measure to uphold national interests and values, with Congress leader Pawan Khera emphasising that they don’t oppose or hate these anchors but prioritise the love for their country, Bharat.
In response to the boycott, some of the anchors on the list have expressed their views. Sudhir Chaudhary of AajTak noted that the journalists who refused to become ‘Charan Chumbak’ (bootlickers) have now been boycotted, and he is eager to see how the Indian media responds to this.
Aditi Tyagi, whose name is first on the list, emphasised the importance of asking questions for the country and encouraged others not to fear. Aman Chopra, who is also on the list, regarded the boycott as a badge of honour for a journalist and expressed gratitude for the recognition.
Rubika Liyaquat criticised the boycott, calling it running away from questions and fearing journalists who don’t conform. She urged the courage to ban leaders who promote hatred.
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Ashok Shrivastav of DD News highlighted the irony that 28 parties are allegedly afraid of 14 journalists.
Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded with criticism of the boycott, with BJP president JP Nadda recalling instances of Congress curbing free speech in the past. Anil Baluni, the National Media In-charge of BJP, condemned the boycott as oppressive and reflective of dictatorial thinking. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused the INDI Alliance of being intolerant and suggested they would impose press censorship if in power.
The decision to boycott specific news anchors comes amid debates over media freedom and the role of journalism in India’s political landscape. It highlights the complex relationship between the media and political parties, with both sides accusing each other of bias and intolerance.
The move raises questions about the boundaries between political influence and media independence. It also underscores the challenges faced by journalists and news organisations in navigating political pressures while maintaining their commitment to free and responsible journalism.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this boycott will impact the media landscape in India and whether it will lead to broader discussions on the role and responsibilities of media in a democratic society.
