NDTV India off air for a day for flouting norms

NEW DELHI: Television channel NDTV India will be taken off air for a day for violating broadcast norms during the Pathankot terror attack on January 2, the ministry of information and broadcasting said on Thursday.

The decision was taken following a recommendation by an Interministerial committee (IIMC) of the ministry after it concluded that the channel had revealed “strategically-sensitive” details of the air base under attack in Pathankot, during the terror attack.

Giving out details of the area under attack or specific information on the counter-terror operations during a siege is in violation of the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2015, which prevent channels from beaming live coverage of any anti-terrorist operation by security forces.

The channel will be off air between 1 am on November 9 and till 1 am on November 10.

Even as sources in the ministry said this is the first time punitive action is being taken against a channel for breaching norms that could affect national security, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal criticised the move.

He put out a tweet where he cautioned TV channels that unless they praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they too could face similar action.

Reacting to the government order, NDTV said: “The order of the MIB has been received. It is shocking that NDTV has been singled out in this manner. Every channel and newspaper had similar coverage. In fact NDTV’s coverage was particularly balanced. After the dark days of the emergency when the press was fettered, it is extraordinary that NDTV is being proceeded against in this manner. NDTV is examining all options in this matter.”