New Delhi : The Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) has been receiving several complaints about the ‘misrepresentation’ of national symbols on TV channels.
According to officials of BCCC, most of these complaints are against English channels, barring a few that are against Hindi General Entertainment Channels (GECs). The Council has taken note of these complaints and has advised channels to ensure that they do not ‘disrespect’ national symbols.
In April this year, the government had banned the news channel Al-Jazeera for five days for showing an incorrect map of India. The channel had shown parts of Kashmir in Pakistan and China, and this had led the government to take action against the channel. It seems that the same issue has been observed by viewers on other channels and they have taken their grievances to the TV ombudsman.
In April last year, the Council had even issued an advisory to all channels asking them to ‘refrain from airing any content that may amount to misuse or wrong depiction of the national flag, national emblem, national anthem and map of India’. The body has sent the advisory to all the channels and reiterated the points stated in the document.
Following are some samples of Complaints received by BCCC:
Wrong map of India
Some of the complaints received against channels like National Geographic and Ten Sports said that the channels had shown a wrong map of India, which excluded Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin. The viewers, in their complaints, stated that their ‘sentiments were hurt’ because of this incorrect depiction.
Kashmir not in India
Complaints have been filed against History TV 18, Animal Planet and Discovery HD World stating that the map displayed on the shows didn’t show Kashmir as a part of India.
An Indian flag without Ashok Chakra
‘India’s Got Talent’ recently concluded, but the show, which gives a platform to talented performers from across the country, has received a complaint that the flag being held by the anchor and some participants in one of the episodes didn’t have the Ashok Chakra
