Aman Chopra’s show on so-called ‘thook Jihad’ disappears from YouTube. Tweets promoting the show is also gone
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Aman Chopra, News18 India anchor who often hosts Islamophobic shows, this week ran a hateful discussion that has become talk of the town. At his regular show titled ‘Desh Jhukne Nahi Dunga’ (Will Not Let Down the Nation) on November 16, Chopra devoted his show to so-called ‘Thook Jihad’ (Spit Jihad) in which he as well as his panelists spew hate against Muslims.
The discussion titled “Khane Mein Thookna, Jihad Ya Jahalat?” (Spitting in Food, Jihad or Ignorance?) had three panelists – Ashwini Upadhyay, a lawyer who recently grabbed headlines for organising an anti-Muslim rally at Jantar Mantar; Delhi University professor Sangit Ragi; and Hindutva leader Acharya Ajay Gautam. The show also had two Muslim panelists who were used as punching bags during the discussion.
The entire discussion was based on fake videos fact-checked last year by none other than the English edition of News18 itself. The channel is owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani.
The video of the November 16 show has been taken down from YouTube. But it is not clear who did it – the management of News18 or YouTube. Tweets related to the show have also been deleted.
Some of the tweets were:
“Riwaj-e-thook, ye kaisi bhookh,” read a tweet of Chopra with the hashtrag #ThookJihad”.
“In Jihadiyon par murder ka case darj ho, coronakal mein inke thookne se na jaane kitne log mare honge (these jihidis (Muslims) should be booked on murder charges. During corona period, many would have dies because of their spitting),” read another attributing the statement to Acharya Ajay Gautam.
“Khaane me thookna aastha hai (Spitting in food is faith),” read yet another tweet attributing the statement to one Maulana Aleemuddin Asadi.
Though the tweets were deleted, their screenshots have been tweeted by Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of AltNews fact-checking website.
“Tweets were later deleted, but not before the hateful video reached lakhs of people on social media. The video shown by @AmanChopra was in fact debunked by your channel last year,” said Zubair.
Hello @18RahulJoshi, Santosh Menon. Has @AmanChopra_ been appointed to spew hate against Muslim Community? Almost every show by him is filled with Muslim hate. This was the latest show telecasted by @News18India. Look at the hashtag used. Is that why he’s getting paid for? pic.twitter.com/Ie4Dc4ab6N
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) November 18, 2021
News Laundry journalist Meghnad tweeted naming the sponsors of the show he called “utter filth”.
“This utter filth called ‘Khane mein thookna, jihad ya jahalat?’ aired on @News18India on Nov 16th was sponsored by …”
This utter filth called “Khane mein thookna, jihad ya jahalat?” aired on @News18India on Nov 16th was sponsored by:
– @PypAyurved
– @Lux_Innerwear
– @campusshoes
– Sparx Shoes
– MDH Masalas
– Opigesic pic.twitter.com/9UfEbG7xET— meghnad 🔗 (@Memeghnad) November 18, 2021
