United Kingdom’s communications regulator Ofcom has on Tuesday imposed a fine of 20,000 pounds (approximately Rs 19.73 lakh) on Worldview Media Network Limited, which operates Republic Bharat in UK, for failing to comply with its broadcasting rules.
According to Ofcom, the episode hosted by Republic TV’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, was related to India’s Chandrayaan 2 spacecraft mission and “involved a comparison of India’s space exploration and technological advancements compared to Pakistan, and Pakistan’s alleged terrorist activities against Indian targets.”
However, during the debate, the comments made by Goswami and his panellists “amounted to hate speech against Pakistani people”. The show reportedly made references to Pakistanis as “terrorists”, “donkeys”, “monkeys”, “beggars” and “thieves”.
“Their scientists, doctors, their leaders, politicians all are terrorists. Even their sports people. Every child is a terrorist over there. Every child is a terrorist. You are dealing with a terrorist entity,” Goswami and his guests said as per Ofcom’s release.
The communications regulator further took note of the use of the term “Paki”, which it said was a racist word and unacceptable to the audience of UK.
