New Delhi - The INDIA bloc's media committee made the decision to boycott 14 TV anchors on Thursday. A list containing the names of these news anchors was shared by the leaders of the INDIA bloc. However, Congress leader Pawan Khera clarified that the INDIA alliance did not "boycott or blacklist anyone" but instead initiated a movement of non-cooperation. He stated that leaders of the opposition bloc would begin attending the shows of the 14 journalists if they acknowledged their mistakes.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose Janata Dal (United) is part of the INDIA bloc, responded to this development on Saturday. He expressed his support for journalists and emphasized the importance of their freedom. He stated that he had no prior knowledge of the boycott decision and affirmed that journalists should have the freedom to write as they choose without interference. He clarified that he was not against anyone and believed in upholding their rights.

The decision to boycott these TV anchors had sparked criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which condemned it as "contempt against media" and "hatred against free journalism." Sambit Patra of the BJP raised concerns about the safety of the journalists on the list and questioned who would be held responsible if any party workers attacked them. He labeled the list as a "target list" and attributed it to the Congress party and the 'INDIA alliance.'

Pawan Khera, in a statement on X, explained the rationale behind the decision. He expressed concerns about the prevalence of hate speech on certain channels and their role in perpetuating division. He stated that their goal was to create a "Hate-Free India" and, with a heavy heart, decided not to participate in the shows and events of some anchors. While they remained committed to addressing false narratives and unrestrained comments against their leaders, they wanted to prevent the spread of hatred in society, advocating for love to prevail over hate.