Asianet Suvarna news shows Indian Muslim's figures with Pakistani flag while reporting on population
Bengaluru: A viral video clipping of a news program aired on Kannada news channel, Asianet Suvarna set off firestorm on social media after it allegedly depicted Indian Muslims using a Pakistan flag, during its reportage on the EAC-PM report.
The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), which in its study titled "Share of religious minorities: A cross-country analysis," claimed that the Hindu population in India experienced decline, while Muslim population witnessed significant growth.
The program hosted by the channel’s Head of news and programs and senior Anchor Ajit Hanumakkanavar, was seen doing a detailed discussion on the EAC-PM report. A pictograph chart displaying data from the report on the percentage share of population Hindu’s and Muslims was aired, in which the Hindu's were depicted using the Indian flag while the Muslims were depicted using a Pakistan flag.
The videos of the viral clipping are supposedly removed from the network’s official social media handles.
The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) recently published a study that analyzed the shifts in religious demographics across various countries from 1950 to 2015. According to the findings, India's Hindu majority population experienced a decline of 7.81 per cent during the 65-year period.In contrast, the Muslim community in India witnessed a significant increase of 43.15 per cent within the same timeframe.
Meanwhile, Independent Think tank, Population Foundation of India (PFI) has expressed deep concerns about media misrepresenting data from the EAC-PM report on religious minorities' share in populations. They highlighted the broader demographic trends, including declining decadal growth rates among Muslims and converging fertility rates between Hindus and Muslims and also called for media houses to present accurate and contextual presentation of data.
Here is a video clip.. pic.twitter.com/hVpiX995hl
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 10, 2024
India flag for Indian Hindus and
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 10, 2024
Pakistan flag for Indian Muslims.
This is how @AsianetNewsSN and its Anchor Ajit Hanumakkanavar portrayed 20 crore Indian Muslims while discussing the EAC-PM report. Hope organisations in Karnataka register a complaint against the Anchor and… pic.twitter.com/OVFB8MAoF5
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
