Controversial Indian news anchor Navika Kumar booked for role in Nupur Sharma’s blasphemous remarks

Indian news channel Times Now’s controversial anchor Navika Kumar has
been booked by Maharashtra Police for maliciously intending to outrage
religious feelings, almost three weeks after the spokesperson of
ruling Bharatia Janata Party (BJP) Nupur Sharma on Kumar’s primetime
news show made derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed (peace be
upon him).

The FIR was filed at the Nanalpet police station in Maharashtra’s
Parbhani locality. Based on the complaint of a Muslim religious
leader, the FIR also named Nupur Sharma, the now-suspended BJP leader
who made the derogatory remarks, reported news website Newslaundry.

The channel had earlier tried to distance itself from Sharma’s
remarks, saying, “We urge participants on our debates to maintain
restraint and not indulge in unparliamentary language against fellow
panelists.”

This is not the first time Times Now has sought to distance itself
from remarks made on shows hosted by Navika. In November 2021, Navika
had interviewed Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut at the Times Now 2021
summit in Delhi.

The anchor listened quietly as Kangana declared that India getting
freedom in 1947 was a “bheekh” and that “true independence” was gained
only in 2014, when the BJP under Narendra Modi came to power.

After drawing criticism, including from BJP leaders, Times Now called
Kangana’s comments “an insult to millions of freedom fighters”.