Lucknow: A local court has directed the filing of a complaint case against television anchor Anjana Om Kashyap over a Partition-related episode of her show broadcast on August 14.
The order came after former IPS officer and politician Amitabh Thakur alleged that the programme, aired on Aaj Tak’s “Black and White” and titled “Bharat vibhajan ka maksad pura kyun nahi hua?” (Why was the purpose of India’s Partition not fulfilled?), promoted hostility between communities.
Thakur said he first approached the Gomtinagar police station to register a First Information Report. When no action followed, he moved the court with a private complaint. He argued the episode questioned why Muslims remained in India after Partition and described it as dangerous for national unity. He alleged it amounted to encouraging those with intolerant views to pursue ideas of “historical correction.”
The petition stated that the show contained content falling under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including promoting enmity between groups, disturbing communal harmony, and making statements prejudicial to integration.
In the episode, Kashyap compared migration numbers during Partition, noting that 96 lakh Muslims moved to Pakistan while 83 lakh Hindus came to India. She questioned whether the Partition had fulfilled its intended purpose. Thakur contended this framing indirectly suggested Muslims should not have stayed in India.
Kashyap defended her segment by placing it within a historical narrative, highlighting leaders’ roles in 1947 and migration statistics. The court’s order now sets the stage for legal scrutiny of the broadcast.
