Right Wing Media, Social Handles Run 'Land Jihad' In Jaipur Campaign
A disturbing narrative has emerged from Jaipur”s Nandpuri colony, where several posters have been found urging Hindu families not to sell their properties to members of the Muslim community. The video, shared by Times Now Navbharat on February 21 on X (formerly known as Twitter), has been doing the rounds on social media, specifically among right-wing media and social handles, labelling it “zameen jihad” or “land jihad.”
In the video, several residents can be seen expressing their fear of a “demographic shift” with Muslim families residing within the colony. The Times Now Navbharat video highlighted the concerns of some residents, particularly women, who expressed apprehensions over the increasing number of Muslim families in the area, citing differences in culture and social dynamics as reasons for their unease and claiming that the presence of Muslim families threatens their traditional way of life.
The residents have approached BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya for support to stop Hindu families migrating from the area. The MLA has made headlines for some of his projects which included action against open chicken carts and a plan to trace down illegal immigrants from Myanmar (Rohingya) and Bangladesh. According to a The Wire report, an FIR was filed against the BJP MLA for allegedly assaulting and spitting on a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community in Peethawas village in Rajasthan.
The residents allege that “Hindus are migrating due to fear” from the colony, citing apprehensions of Muslim individuals cooking meat, forcing others to consume meat, and stealing and whistling at women. The stereotypical portrayal of the minority community, veiled in ignorance and a communal tone, as intruders or threats to the local community has been amplified by news media agencies and lapped up by right-wing social media handles.
This is not a new phenomenon. Last year, in November, the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NVDSA) cautioned leading news channels, which included Times Now Navbharat, and their anchors against attaching communal shifts to discussions. According to a report in The Wire, the NBDSA held that the broadcaster of the media agency had violated the guidelines to prevent communally charged tones in reporting crime, rumours, riots, and other incidents. Additionally, the NBDSA, headed by Justice A. K. Sikri, also found the channel in violation of the Specific Guidelines Covering Reportage relating to racial and religious harmony.
Another media channel found to be in violation of the guideline was Aaj Tak, for using “mazhar jihad” after having used terms such as “hard jihad,” “soft jihad,” and “land jihad” in the past.
The way the Nandpuri issue has been portrayed by certain sections of the media is deeply concerning. Instead of addressing the discriminatory and divisive tone of the video and seeking to foster harmony, certain media outlets have chosen to amplify the divisive rhetoric and fuel communal tensions. Sensationalising the issue, coupled with the communal messaging and framing it in terms of religious identity by right-wing media, is not only irresponsible but also harmful, creating an anti-Muslim atmosphere and promoting hate speech against minority communities.
