New Delhi: The Central Government has banned 48 hours on two TV channels for criticizing the RSS and Delhi Police in Delhi violence and favoring a particular community. The two TV channels banned by the Information Broadcasting Ministry are the Malayalam news channel Asianet News and Media One News. The ban has been imposed from 7.30 pm on Friday (March 06) for the next 48 hours.
Both banned channels allege that reporting during the Delhi riots “showed news of an attack on a place of worship of a particular community and was favored by a community”. A ministry order sent to Media One News stated that the channel’s “question alleges the inaction of the RSS and Delhi Police.” It “seems critical of the Delhi Police and the RSS”. The channel also focuses on the “vandalism of CAA supporters”.
The ministry on Friday issued two separate orders to the channel citing the alleged violation of the Program Code of the Cable TV Networks (Regulations) Act, 1995.
Media One News editor-in-chief C Thomas said on the central government’s decision, “In the history of India, there has never been such a ban.” At the time of emergency, there were restrictions on media. But right now the country is not going through an emergency. The decision to ban TV channels is a warning to all media houses in the country that they should not criticize the government. ”
Asianet News is indirectly owned by BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Chandrasekhar owns RC Stock & Securities Private Limited, Jupiter Global Infrastructure and Minsk Developers Private Limited. He is the owner of Jupiter Capital, a company owned by Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd, which runs Asianet News.