Arnab Goswami’s programme slapped with £20,000 fine over hate speech by British regulator Ofcom

The United Kingdom’s telecoms regulator Office of Communications (Ofcom) has sanctioned Arnab Goswami’s programme over hate speech and has slapped Republic Bharat TV with fine of £20,000.

On Tuesday the British regulator Ofcom has  fined the arm of Indian news channel Republic TV, of 20,000 pounds for broadcasting content that involved “offensive language”, “hate speech” and “ abusive or derogatory treatment of individuals, groups, religions or communities”.

Furthermore Republic Bharat has also been asked to air an apology on the channel. In a statement on its website, Ofcom added that in addition to the fine, the channel would have to broadcast the regulator’s findings on a “date and in a form to be determined by Ofcom”. It also directed the channel not to repeat the programme. 

In a release detailing on the strictures  Ofcom, said that in the channel’s “Poochta Hai Bharat” programme aired on September 6, 2019, views expressed by the presenter Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami and some of the guests violated its broadcasting norms. The sanctions have been imposed on Worldview Media Network Limited, which holds the license for airing Republic Bharat in the UK.

The decision also included the transcripts from the programme. The show on the said date had discussed a number of thins including India’s space programme, the Kashmir issue and “Pakistan’s alleged involvement in terrorist activities against Indian targets”.