The news channel NDTV has been ordered to go off the air for one day on November 9 for violating the rules of broadcasting, according to Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu. Speaking to reporters at Chennai on Saturday, the Minister said the channel has violated the rules of the game and hence the action by the Government.
The channel has been asked to go off the air for a day for telecasting strategically sensitive details while covering the Pathancot Indian Air Force base attack by Pakistani terrorists. According to the I&B Ministry, the channel in question had aired visuals of ammunition and location of the fighter jets of the IAF.
“The Centre is being criticised for taking action against NDTV for showing content of terrorist action in Pathankot. The content telecast by the channel was objectionable. The channel was found violating laws and was un-repenting on the issue,” said Naidu. He also said that the media in the country had been repeatedly urged not to broadcast sting operations risking the lives of soldiers and security of the nation. “There is a committee that governs media coverage which is operational from March 2016 while the Cable TV Act of 1995 requires media to refrain from publishing explicit content and present themselves for periodic briefing,” the Minister pointed out.
He reminded all that the UPA Government that ruled the country during 2004 to 2014 had ordered several TV channels to go off the air allegedly for violating the laws. “There were 21 instances of the channels being blacked out for period ranging from one day to two months for airing obscene visuals — including 13 cases of telecasting “Adult” rated certified films,” said Naidu. He also said about a channel which was taken off the air for 30 days for airing a sting operation.
Naidu came down heavily on those people who compare the present action of the Government with that of the Emergency Days of 1975. “This comment is made by people who do not know about the intensity of the media censoring of those days. We in the Jan Sangh and other such organisations were at the worst receiving end of the Emergency Days and would shudder to even think of doing the same to others and particularly in respect of freedom of media,” he said.
The Minister also said that CM Jayalalithaa would soon resume her role of serving the people. “I spoke to the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu about the status of the CM’s health and I was told that she is recovering well. Jayalalithaaji is a person with excellent will power and she is recovering well. I am told that she would soon resume her normal routine,” said Naidu, who enjoys a close rapport with Jayalalitha.