News Broadcasting
Zee News may challenge NBSA order on ‘Afzal Premi Gang…”
MUMBAI: Self-regulatory news broadcasters authority NBSA has asked the Hindi news channel Zee News to pay Rs 1 lakh as a fine for the report titled ‘Afzal Premi Gang ka Mushaira’, telecast an apology on 8 September and remove the programme video from Zee website.
In the report, Zee News had referred to Urdu poet and scientist Gauhar Raza as anti-national and a supporter of Afzal Guru who was convited and hanged for 2001 Parliament attack. The channel had telecast one of the poetry recitals of Raza along with the footage of the controversial Jawaharlal Nehru University protests of February 2016.
Zee Media editor Sudhir Chaudhary meanwhile denied violation of NBSA guidelines. The channel, Chaudhary said, was contemplating legal remedies including challenging NBSA order, Mint reported.
Acting on two complaints one by Raza in April 2016 and a joint complaint filed by the singer Shubha Mudgal, actor Sharmila Tagore, poet Ashok Vajpeyi and writer Syeda Hameed, the NBSA chairperson retired justice R.V. Raveendran, in an order dated 31 August, stated that the channel had breached the NBSA guidelines.
NBSA, at a meeting held on 10 January 2017, after viewing the CD, considering the submissions and examining the matter, was of the view that the broadcaster (Zee) had breached the guidelines relating to accuracy, impartiality, neutrality, which required “TV news channels must provide for neutrality by offering equality for all affected parties, players and actors in any dispute or conflict to present their point of view” and “news channels must strive to ensure that allegations are not portrayed as fact and charges are not conveyed as an act of guilt”, fairness, objectivity and privacy as also the “Guidelines on broadcast of potential defamatory content”; that the broadcaster had failed to give an opportunity to Prof Gauhar Raza, who was being reported upon, to give his version/views; that broadcasting a programme using the footage of the JNU incidents with the poetry recital of Prof Raza and giving title to the programme as “Afzal Premi Gang ka Mushaira” was highly inappropriate and derogatory as mere reference by Prof Gauhar Raza while reciting his poetry to “Kanhaiya”, “Nehru University” & “Rohit Vemula”, could not be a ground to brand the poet, the organisers of the Mushaira and the audience as “Afzal Premi Gang”; and that branding all the participants/audience who attended the Mushaira as belonging to a “gang” who admired Afzal Guru, when Gauhar Raza in his poetry recital did not even mention or refer to Afzal Guru, was unwarranted.”
The request of the complainant for award of compensation of Rs.10 million for loss of reputation, and consequences of incitement of hatred and ill-will against him, was not considered, “being beyond the jurisdiction of NBSA.”
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News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
