Thread by @msaifkhalid

Running anti-Muslim propaganda/misinformation is not limited to “North Korean Channels” or “Godi (lap) media” or nationalist journalists/anchors in India. A thread. 1/n

Let's talks about @NDTV- Indian liberals favourite channel - and a story they ran last week on its website: “ISIS-Linked Couple Had Plans Of Suicide Attack In Delhi: Police Sources"
ndtv.com/delhi-news/jam…

The story, based entirely on unnamed sources, was their top story for some time, and uncritically pushes a government narrative that weeks of peaceful protests against the CAA were a “jihadist conspiracy” [sic].

“ISIS, the sources said, has a big role in engineering the protests against the contentious citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens.”

The above line is in complete contradiction of what NDTV’s own journalists have reported since the protests against Modi goat’s exclusionary policies erupted.

SO - was this story placed by the government or the police? If not, why did the story run without any challenge? I have not seen a single report that says foreign forces were behind the protests. Why did NDTV not bother to fact check it?

The article also goes on to say: “They were found to possess certain sensitive items, sources said.”

"Certain sensitive items".  Why can't NDTV tell its audience what those "Certain sensitive items" are?

The article then includes the fflg govt claim: “The centre has repeatedly insisted that the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act – which figured prominently in their campaign for the Delhi assembly elections -- were a conspiracy.”

The channel once again fails to challenge the “conspiracy” theory put forth by the govt. And I must emphasize that its own star journalists @ravishndtv @SreenivasanJain have reported on the organic & grassroots nature of the protests.

The article seems to be geared to compete with OpIndia, Swarajya or even the fake news factory BJP IT cell. The news report by the channel’s Hindi language channel, Mukesh Sigh Sengar, further says:”

“Various ministers and BJP leaders have alleged that the Congress, which practiced the politics of minority appeasement, was driving the protests.

The Congress Party - which can’t even decide who will be its next president - can organize protests of this scale? It’s laughable. But even if NDTV decided to run such an accusation, why didn't it seek clarification or reaction from the Congress Party? One sided, isn’t it?

It also reinforces another BJP/RSS trope called “minority appeasement”. Muslims, who are at the bottom of every development index, are accused of being favored. This is a lie and NDTV extends this lie.

Then, the following sentence is shocking in its normalization of hate speech. It says: “Several leaders, including Union minister Giriraj Singh, have also alleged a role of Pakistan in the protests.”

Giriraj Singh is on record to tell Muslims to go to Pakistan. NDTV forgets to mention the hate speech by Giriraj. It not only normalizes hate speech but also gives a platform to Singh’s conspiracy theory on the protests.

The last Graf: “Last month's violence in Delhi..., had started as clashes between the anti-CAA protesters and those supporting the law. The opposition alleges that the hate speech by a section of BJP leaders ahead of the Delhi elections had contributed greatly to the violence.”

The hate speech is not an opposition allegation. Kapil Mishra tweeted himself the speech which was tweeted by NDTV journalists, including Jain.

The anti-Muslim prejudice and Islamophobia amongst liberal journalists (not all) is a reality and it makes Modi’s job easier.

Govt propaganda on nationalism, security, Kashmir, Maoism/tribal insurgency and Northeast separatism is bought by most liberal media uncritically. On all these issues, the victims are people on the margins.

This shameful and irresponsible from @ndtv. @PrannoyRoyNDTV @Suparna_Singh
#Islamophobia #DelhiViolence #antiCAANRCprotests