| 16 June 2023
The Allahabad High Court in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has issued a restraining order against Al Jazeera, preventing the broadcast of an investigative film titled "India … Who Lit the Fuse?" The court cited concerns over potential "evil consequences" as the reason behind the decision. The film focuses on hate crimes against Muslims perpetrated by Hindu supremacist groups operating within the country.
The court's ruling came in response to a petition filed by Sudhir Kumar, an Indian national who expressed apprehensions that the documentary could disrupt social harmony and threaten India's integrity. In response to the petition, the court directed the Indian government to take measures to ensure that the film is not broadcast or promoted on social media until its contents have been examined by the authorities and the necessary authorization has been obtained.
"India … Who Lit the Fuse?" is part of Al Jazeera's Point Blank investigation series, known for its in-depth and thought-provoking documentaries. The film relies on testimonies and documents to shed light on the activities of Hindu supremacist outfits, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which serves as the ideological mentor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The RSS, established in 1925 and inspired by Nazi ideology, aims to create an ethnic Hindu state in what is constitutionally a secular India. The group faced a brief ban in 1948 after one of its suspected members assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, the iconic leader of India's independence movement. With millions of members spread across the country, the RSS remains an influential force.
The Al Jazeera documentary features an interview with a defector from the RSS, who exposes disturbing details about training sessions in RSS camps allegedly overseen by members of the Indian Army. The film also highlights the targeting and harassment of nearly 700,000 Muslims in Assam, a northeastern state governed by the BJP. These individuals fear the loss of their nationality and potential deportation to neighboring Bangladesh since the enactment of a controversial citizenship law in 2019. The documentary further reveals widespread campaigns across multiple Indian states to demolish properties owned by Muslims, which critics argue aims to economically and socially marginalize the country's Muslim minority.
Responding to the allegations made in the documentary, a spokesperson for the BJP dismissed them and affirmed the government's commitment to the rule of law in the predominantly Hindu country. The spokesperson stated that individuals accused of targeting Muslims would face severe consequences. Furthermore, the spokesperson defended the RSS, emphasizing its non-discriminatory nature and its purported focus on the welfare of all Indians, including Muslims, Christians, tribal communities, and historically disadvantaged groups such as the Dalits.
This recent move to restrain Al Jazeera's documentary follows a similar ban imposed on a BBC film earlier this year. The BBC production raised questions about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's involvement when he was the chief minister of Gujarat during the 2002 riots, where over 1,000 Muslims were killed. Activists argue that the actual death toll may be higher than officially reported. Since the ban, Indian authorities have conducted raids on BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai and have accused the network of tax violations. The BBC has vehemently denied the charges and stands by the facts presented in its two-part film.
The court will reconvene on July 6 to further consider the case. In the meantime, the fate of "India … Who Lit the Fuse?" remains uncertain, as the film awaits examination by the authorities and the possibility of receiving necessary authorization for broadcast.
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