NEW DELHI, March 13 -- In a welcome move, the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has castigated three leading channels -- Times Now, Zee News and News 18 -- for airing blatantly communal shows.

The Authority in its order of February 27 indicted Times Now and Zee News for their coverage of protests by the now banned Muslim organization, the Popular Front of India, and the increase in India's population. Times Now had falsely claimed that "Pakistan Zindabad" slogans were raised at a demonstration held by the Popular Front in Pune on September 24, 2022.

Times Now had in its defence said it had relied on reports by news agencies ANI and PTI and freelance reporters for the show. However, the Broadcasting Authority was ...