New Delhi: The Indian viewer is no stranger to a heated television news debate. But one such debate that aired live on a news channel Friday had all the trappings of slapstick comedy as two panellists sparring over Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s recent visit to Pakistan started exchanging slaps and punches, sounds of which the studio mics captured loud and clear.
A clip of the brawl—which happened on a Zee News show called ‘Taal Thok Ke’, hosted by anchor Anuraag Muskaan—has gone viral on social media, shared thousands of times on micro-blogging platform X. The reactions range from ridicule to despair, in equal amounts.
The 7-seconds video mainly focuses on two panellists. One is Acharya Vikramaditya, who on his X bio identifies himself as founder of Vivekananda Nature Cure Hospital, astrologer, and “an authority on Mudra Yoga”. The other is Haziq Khan, identified on the show as an Islamic scholar.
In the video, Acharya can be heard saying, “Hum aadmi ko jaanwar nahi insaan banana sikhate hain (We teach a man to be human and not an animal).
In response to his remark, Khan said: “Shri Krishna ji ki 16,000… (Shri Krishna had 16,000…)” Before he could finish the sentence, Vikramaditya crossed over from his frame and grabbed Khan by the throat, who in turn slapped his co-panelist, both hurling abuses at each other.
Responding to the seven seconds long clip, an X user wrote, “Indian news channels are achieving new heights every day. ‘Sorry for heights, fight’.” Another wrote, “I am sure both have nothing to do with their religion.” Yet another wrote: “You need to have WWE training for news channels now a days!!”
“Serious competition to WWF TV,” commented another X user.
Some users on X called Khan’s remark Hinduphobic and celebrated Vikramaditya’s actions. “Acharya Vikramaditya ji in action mode as Hinduphobic person abuses Shri Krishna,” said one such user. Another said, “The Almighty did justice and slapped him (Vikramaditya) hard on his own cheek. Awaaz, awaaz acchi hai.”
Zakir Naik has courted controversy in India due to inflammatory speeches and is currently wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a 2016 money laundering case.
Naik met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday as part of his visit on the Pakistani government’s invitation. India minced no words reacting to the visit, with an external affairs ministry spokesperson saying: “We have seen reports that he (Zakir Naik) is being feted in Pakistan. He has been warmly welcomed there. It is not surprising for us that a fugitive from Indian law, justice, has received a high-level welcome in Pakistan.”
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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