Politicians lash out at Centre over NDTV India ban, ask is it 'ache din'

An interministerial panel had concluded that 'NDTV India' had revealed crucial information during Pathankot attack

Leaders across the party line lashed out at the Narendra Modi government for its order to take a private news channel off air for a day and asked is it 'ache din for anyone'.

An interministerial panel had on Thursday concluded that the channel 'NDTV India' had revealed crucial and "strategically sensitive" information when the terror attack on IAF base was being carried out.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry while invoking the powers under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act said it "orders to prohibit the transmission or re-transmission of NDTV India channel for one day on any platform throughout India with effect from 12:01 am on November 9, 2016 till 12:01 am of November 10, 2016".

 

This is the first ever such order against a TV channel over its coverage of a terror attack, the norms regarding which were notified in 2015.

Here is who said what:

Rahul Gandhi, Congress Vice-President: Detaining opposition leaders, blacking out tv channels - all in a day's work in Modiji's India. NDTV banned is shocking and unprecedented

Jyotiraditya Scindia, Congress MP: Modi sarkar can continue to detain opposition or muzzle press but Indian democracy cannot and will not be silenced.

Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister: NDTV ban is shocking. If the government had issues with Pathankot coverage, there are provisions available. But ban shows an Emergency-like attitude.

Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister: I hope the whole media goes off air for a day in solidarity with NDTV.

Omar Abdullah, former J&K Chief Minister: NDTV India ordered off the air, opposition leaders detained for wanting to show solidarity with the family of dead soldier. Ache din anyone?