The quality of debates on Indian TV news channels has constantly deteriorated over the last few years. The Prime time debates on almost all news channels at night comprise of representatives of religions. A Hindu saint/priest and a Muslim Maulana are called upon for debates on different issues, where they shout and badmouth each other, while the audience gets entertained. Then there’s the host of the show, who usually tends to bash the Maulana, either for his conservative view or for his defense of practices related to Islam.
Many critics have often exposed that the saints/priests or Maulanas appearing on Prime Time debates have no or wrong knowledge about their religion, and they are there on TV shows to just earn momentary fame or perhaps money.
One such video showing the reality of these debates is now going viral on the internet. In this video, a ‘Muslim Scholar’ or Maulana named Hafeez Ghulam Sarwar, is seen on a TV debate of news channel “News Nation”, debating with a man called Sahil, who the channel says is an “Ex-Muslim”.
In this video, the anchor is seen asking Mr Sarwar whether he does not believe in Hadith, the transmitted reports about what Muhammad said and did, and believes only in Quran verses. To this, the ‘Muslim Scholar’ says: “I have not studied Hadith.”
Mr Sahil, the other panelist, then repeatedly asks Mr Sarwar “how did he become Maulana?” if he had not studied Hadith.
Mr Sarwar, flustered by the commotion by anchor and fellow panelist, says: “Arey I am not a Maulana. I am a TV wallah Maulana. I am Hafeez Ghulam Sarwar.”
Watch the video here:
The clip is now doing rounds on Twitter, with users having a laugh at news channels who call random Muslims to shows calling them ‘Muslim Scholars’ or Maulana.
Twitter user named Ashraf Hussain wrote: “I don’t know Hadith, I am a Maulana of TV’. This media also picks up whom and brings them to the studio as a Maulana.”
‘मैं हदीस नहीं जानता, मैं टीवी वाला मौलाना हूँ’.
ये मीडिया भी किस-किस को उठाकर स्टूडियो में मौलाना बनाके ले आती है🤦♂️🤣🤪🤷🏼♂️ pic.twitter.com/kUJcTnKuXh
— Ashraf Hussain (@AshrafFem) September 14, 2022
Another user named Aftab Alam said:” Godi waley media ka TV wala Maulana …!!! This is how Indian media strategically misleads & spreads hate against Muslims. They call rented Mullas and put words in their mouth.”
Godi waley media ka TV wala Maulana …!!!
This is how Indian media strategically misleads & spreads hate against Muslims. They call rented Mullas and put words in their mouth. https://t.co/Nn3orXjsyF— Aftab Alam آفتاب عالم आफ़ताब आलम (@aftabcalm) September 13, 2022
Nigar Parveen, taking swipe at this video, wrote: “Now many daily wage earners who gossip in the channels of Godi media in the name of ‘Muslim scholars’ will also be exposed.”
मैं तो TV वाला मौलाना हूँ 😅
अभी कई दिहाड़ी 'मुस्लिम स्कॉलर' के नाम पर जो गोदी मीडिया के चैनलों में जाकर बकवास करते हैं उनका भी पर्दाफाश होगा। pic.twitter.com/iSeUOQwt1P
— Nigar Parveen (@NigarNawab) September 13, 2022
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