NDTV India ban not based on any newly invented rule: Venkaiah Naidu

Action proposed was only a logical conclusion of concerns clearly articulated by the UPA govt in various advisories

The government’s decision to ask NDTV India to stay off air for a day, on November 9, was not based on any newly invented rule and principle, said Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, on Saturday. He was in Chennai to take part in the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Builders Association of India.

Naidu said: “The belated criticism of the action proposed to be taken against NDTV India for violating the norms of live coverage of anti-terrorist operations by the security personnel in Pathankot in January this year is clearly ill-informed and politically inspired.”

Naidu further noted that the two Congress-led United Progressive Alliance governments, during 2005-14, ordered television channels to go off air on 21 instances, for a period ranging from one day to two months for showing obscene visuals. This included 13 cases of broadcasting “adult” rated certified films late in the evening. One channel was taken off air for 30 days for showing a sting operation.

 

“People of the country are wise enough to appreciate which of the two violations — showing obscene visuals at the stroke of midnight, or risking the lives of defence personnel and civilians through a live telecast of anti-terrorist operations in broad daylight — is a serious threat to the interests of the nation, including its sovereignty, integrity and security,” added Naidu.

The ground on which action has been proposed against NDTV India is only a logical conclusion of the concerns clearly articulated by the UPA government in various advisories issued after 26/11 terror attacks on multiple targets in Mumbai in 2008, he further said.

In the advisories that were issued by the UPA government, all news channels were clearly asked to exercise restraint, maturity and sensitivity while reporting on anti-terrorist operations— keeping in mind the larger interest of the security forces involved in such operations, as well as civilians. 

Expressing concern over continued violations, the then government at the Centre had concluded that any coverage violating such norms amounts to coverage against the interests of the nation.

“The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government too issued a couple of such advisories, and like the previous government, noticed continued violations, as in the case of the Gurdaspur terrorist attack. This channel was found to have resorted to similar violations earlier as well,” said Naidu. 

The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) that recommended action against NDTV India did so after duly acknowledging the instant reach and power of television, and suggested the suspension of telecast for just one day as a token, so that the channel doesn’t get away with similar violations in the future. 

Mentioning the Editors Guild of India, Naidu said that the organisation should realise that under sub-section (2) of Section 20 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, the central government is required to regulate or prohibit the transmission of any channel or programme in the interest of the country. And, according to Para 8.1 of the Uplinking Guidelines, it is empowered to take action for transmitting any objectionable content inconsistent with public interest. That’s why, he added, that the government isn’t required to approach any court, as suggested by the guild. 

“The Bharatiya Janata Party and the NDA government have the highest regard for the media and its freedom, and will never allow any infringement,” he said. “However, in this case, that freedom was not put to the best use by NDTV India.”