Some TV channels “whip up passion”, trivialise debate: RS MPs

NEW DELHI: Some TV channels today came under attack from political leaders in Rajya Sabha, who charged them with whipping up passions, trivialising the debate on Kashmir unrest and dividing the opinion of viewers on communal lines.

Speaking on a short-duration discussion on the situation in Kashmir, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said though he was a staunch supporter of press freedom, some recent discussions on television channels have come as a threat to the unity of the nation.

He expressed disappointment with the kind of television coverage of the news pertaining to the Kashmir situation.

“Some prime-time shows have also attempted to divide the nation on communal lines,” he said, adding that rather than being rational and reflecting sanity, these shows have only fanned passions.

“They place four Hindu and four Muslim fundamentalists on their panel, who would fight each other and inflame passions among the people on communal lines,” Azad said and singled out foreign authors like Tarek Fatah and Taslima Nasreen for vitiating the atmosphere. (AGENCIES)