UK fines Arnab Goswami Rs 20 Lakh for 'Hate Pak speech' on 'Poochta Hai Bharat'

If you are wondering why hashtag Arnab is trending on Twitter, well, that's because the Hindi channel run by the Arnab Goswami's Republic Media Network has just been handed a 20,000 Pound (nearly Rs 20 lakh) by United Kingdom's Office of Communications (Ofcom).

The UK regulator fined Republic Bharat for airing content that had “offensive language” was promoted “derogatory treatment of individuals, groups, religions or communities”

The programme in contention is the September 6, 2019 episode of Arnab's flagship debate show 'Poochta Hai Bharat" on Republic Bharat. During the debate, Arnab and the panelists were debating over India-Pakistan relations, especially comparing India's technological advancements with that of Pakistan's.

According to an Ofcom release, "The presenter (Arnab) and some of the guests conveyed that their (Pakistan's) 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."

OfCom said that such remarks were "expressions of hatred based on intolerance of Pakistani people based on their nationality alone, and that the broadcast of these statements spread, incited, promoted and justified such intolerance towards Pakistani people among viewers.

In its ruling, the UK communications regulator directed the channel to broadcast a statement of its findings on a date and in a form to be determined by Ofcom. It even directed the the network to not to repeat the programme.

Official response from Republic Media Network is awaited.