Justifying the advisory to TV channels not to compare the Prime Minister's address on occassions like Independence Day with speeches of other leaders, Union Minister Manish Tewari today said the sanctity associated with certain occasions has to be maintained.
Tewari, Information and Broadcasting Minister, at the same time reiterated UPA government's commitment to freedom of speech and expression and sought to contrast with that of NDA recalling what had happened to journalists of Tehelka.Com when they had done a sting operation about defence deals when George Fernandes was Defence Minister.
In an advisory issued on October 21, the I&B ministry had asked TV channels not to compare the Prime Minister's address to the nation on occasions like Independence Day with speeches of other leaders, in an apparent reference to the way in which Narendra Modi's speech on August 15 was covered by a section of the media.
In his Independence Day address in Bhuj, Modi had attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on national security and challenged him to a public debate on governance, saying the nation is "restless for change".
The advisory, without naming Modi or any leader, said that on the Independence Day when the PM addresses the country united in emotions of national integrity, patriotism and national fervour, the attempt by these TV channels can best be described as "sensational against norms of ethical journalism".
Tewari said "15th August or 26th January are extremely important national days ...There is a certain sanctity, gravitas and solemnity to certain national occassions and it is incumbent on all of us not to take away that solemnity. "
He at the same time played down contentions that it was an infringement on the media's rights saying "an advisory is an advisory by its very nomenclature. It is nothing more or nothing less.
"Therefore, we thought it was appropriate to bring it to the conscious level of the leaders of the media industry that while there is a normal discourse which plays out 24X7, there are also certain occassions which need to be treated differently. And we leave it to their wisdom to take our advice for whatever it's worth.
