The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday issued an advisory to all television channels and cable TV operators in the wake of the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict to adhere strictly to programme code and ensure that debates, discussions and visuals do not incite any "divisive" or "anti-national" feelings. The Ministry also urged the Press Council of India to sensitise print media to ensure that Norms of Journalistic Conduct under the Press Council of India Act, 1978, are strictly adhered to while reporting on the matter.
The I&B Ministry, in its advisory, said it becomes imperative to ensure that debates, discussions and visuals carried in the electronic media do not incite any divisive or "anti-national" feelings or sentiments.
"It is advised that particular caution be taken that all broadcast is in strict conformity to the Programme Code enshrined under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995," the advisory read. It states no programme should contain attack on religions or communities or visuals or words contemptuous of religious groups or which promote "anti-national" attitudes.
No programme should contain "anything obscene, defamatory, false, and suggestive innuendos and half-truths", the advisory said, adding that no programme should carry anything that is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promotes "anti-national" attitudes. The advisory also instructs that no programme should contain anything amounting to contempt of court or anything affecting the integrity of the country.