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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MP minister's veiled remark on Col Sofia Qureshi sparks major row; he apologises, Cong seeks ouster
Bhopal/Indore, May 13 (PTI): Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Vijay Shah has sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Col Sofia Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists."
Under severe flak, Shah said if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise ten times, adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.
The Congress has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Shah from the Madhya Pradesh cabinet.
Colonel Qureshi had conducted regular press briefings, sharing details of the 'Operation Sindoor' launched by Indian armed forces to strike terrorists, joined by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
"Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)..We avenged these 'kate-pite' people by sending their sister to destroy them," Shah said.
"They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers by making them remove their clothes. PM Modi ji responded by sending their (terrorists') sister in an Army plane to strike them in their houses. They (terrorists) made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent the sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson", the BJP leader said while addressing a gathering in Ramkunda village near Indore.
He said, "Revenge was taken for the honour of our country (India), respect, and for the (slain) husbands of our sisters by sending a sister from your (terrorists') community to Pakistan".
The tribal welfare minister clarified that his remarks should not be construed otherwise.
Shah's remarks drew wide-scale condemnation, with Congress demanding his immediate dismissal from the MP cabinet.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said Shah, who made 'derogatory' remarks in reference to Colonel Sofia Qureshi, should be dismissed immediately.
"A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made a very derogatory, shameful and cheap remark about our brave daughter Colonel Sofia Qureshi. The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united during the entire 'Operation Sindoor' to give a befitting reply to the terrorists," Kharge posted on X.
He alleged that the BJP-RSS harbours an anti-women mentality.
"First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam was trolled on social media, then the daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was harassed, and now the BJP ministers are making such indecent comments about our brave woman Sophia Qureshi," Kharge said and appealed to PM Modi to immediately sack Shah.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari shared the video of Shah on X and asked whether the BJP agrees with the minister's "low thinking"?
The MP Congress Committee alleged that Shah's "indecent' and hate-filled" statement is not just a personal attack, but an open attack on India's military dignity, national unity, and women's honour.
Amid the raging controversy, the BJP's Madhya Pradesh general secretary Hitanand Sharma summoned Shah to the state headquarters in Bhopal.
According to sources, Sharma reprimanded the minister, who also met the state BJP president, Vishnu Dutt Sharma.
Speaking to reporters, Shah sought to attribute the intemperate remarks to his "disturbed" state of mind in view of the brutal killing of innocent people in Pahalgam by terrorists.
He claimed many members of his family have a military background and many were martyred.
"Sister Sophia has brought glory to India by rising above caste and religion. She is more respected than our own sister. I salute her for her service to the nation.
"We cannot even think of insulting her in our dreams. Still, if my words have hurt society and religion, then I am ready to apologise ten times,'' he added.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Manoj Shukla and the party workers blackened the nameplate of Shah at his bungalow and raised slogans seeking his resignation.
'हमारी सेना की जांबाज बेटियां आतंकवादियों की बहन हैं'
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 13, 2025
- ये घटिया बात मध्य प्रदेश में BJP सरकार के मंत्री विजय शाह ने कही है।
भारत की जिन बेटियों पर सबको नाज है, उन बेटियों को लेकर ये शर्मनाक बयान दिया गया है। उन्हें आतंकवादियों की बहन बताया गया है।
ये हमारी पराक्रमी सेना का… pic.twitter.com/y591M3ky8G
