New Delhi: A trailer of a news show to be aired on August 28 on channel Sudarshan News TV, which claims to unveil an alleged conspiracy behind how Muslims have infiltrated the civil services has garnered 1.5 million views on Twitter and a barrage of criticism and support.
Among those who have condemned it is the Indian Police Service (Central) Association, which tweeted against what it called was an attempt at a ‘communal and irresponsible piece of journalism’, through its official handle.
A news story targeting candidates in civil services on the basis of religion is being promoted by Sudarshan TV.
We condemn the communal and irresponsible piece of journalism.
— IPS Association (@IPS_Association) August 27, 2020
The independent think tank Indian Police Foundation, has also tweeted against the tone of the trailer, calling it a “hate story” and an example of bigotry.
The hate story carried on a Noida TV channel against minority candidates joining IAS /IPS is dangerous bigotry. We refrain from retweeting it because it is pure venom. We hope #NewsBroadcastingStandardsAuthority, #UPPolice and concerned government authorities take strict action.
— Indian Police Foundation (@IPF_ORG) August 27, 2020
The short video features Noida-based Sudarshan News TV head Suresh Chavhanke as he teases the show dramatically. Reports have pointed out how Chavhanke characteristically thrives on provocative assertions.
In 2018, The Wire had reported on how Chavhanke had tweeted linking the violence that took place at Bulandshahr in December, in the aftermath of rumours of cow slaughter, to a Muslim Tablighi Ijtema congregation. A police inspector was killed in the melee as gau rakshaks went on a rampage, targeting vehicles and state property. Bulandshahr police then clarified through Twitter that the violence was not related in any way to the Ijtema gathering.
Chavhanke has replied to both of the above organisations on Twitter, and has also been personally taking on journalists and other Twitter commentators who have labelled his show as ‘hate mongering.’
He has accused the IPS Association of twisting the item without “knowing the issue.”
Unfortunate that @IPS_Association twisting without knowing the issue.
Issue is sudden spike in no of people of certain category selected in UPSC Civils in the last few years.
You’re invited to participate in our program for informed discussion, if you care for UPSC objectivity. https://t.co/jy4wJXhljk
— Suresh Chavhanke “Sudarshan News” (@SureshChavhanke) August 27, 2020
Chavhanke has been tweeting on his impending show with the hashtag #UPSC_Jihad.
Several IAS and IPS officers, too, have taken a dim view of the teaser and its communal spirit. Television personality Tehseen Poonawalla tweeted that he has lodged a complaint against the teaser with Delhi Commissioner of Police S.N. Shrivastava and the head of the National Broadcasting Association, Rajat Sharma.
To Poonawalla, Chavhanke wrote on Twitter that Zakir Naik is behind this purported conspiracy.
Not only terror group, but the leader of all the terror groups #ZakirNaik is involved in this conspiracy. Watch #UPSC_Jihad 1st and then react #नौकरशाही_जिहाद from 28 Aug 8pm daily https://t.co/vsPSOh7NbM
— Suresh Chavhanke “Sudarshan News” (@SureshChavhanke) August 27, 2020
The Civil Services Examinations, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, are a group of exhaustive and nationwide competitive tests. Aspirants take them to enter the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).
Although there are restrictions on the basis of age, educational qualification and number of attempts, all Indians can take these examinations, irrespective of religion.