Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "It's now a crime to ask questions and depict the truth on the mayhem that was caused in Delhi. The death of the 53 people and thousand of crores of properties that were lost were the results of the provocative statements made by the BJP leaders that lead to the riots in Delhi. To hold the government accountable is the role of media and we commend the independence of Asianet News TV and Media One for raising their voice and showing the truth. We are confident that the better sense prevailed overnight to a dictatorial government on account of widespread condemnation of such an intemperate act of the government and they have now lifted the ban. Hopefully, they will not repeat such obnoxious acts of putting curbs and emergencies on the media."
CPI(M), Congress flay Centre for ban on Malayalam news channels
17:15 March 07
07:18 March 07
CPI(M), Congress flay Centre for ban on Malayalam news channels
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): The CPI(M) and opposition Congress in Kerala on Friday slammed the Centre for suspending the broadcast of two Malayalam news channels over their coverage of violence in northeast Delhi with the ruling party terming it as "heinous attempt" to threaten the media.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry ordered the suspension of the broadcast of Asianet News TV and Media One for 48 hours, holding that the coverage was in violation of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
Criticising the Centre's action, state secretary of CPI-M, heading the ruling LDF, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged that it was a "heinous attempt" to threaten the media and bring them under their control.
"This type of action did not befit a democratic nation", he said in a statement here.
Senior Congress leader and the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the decision to stop the telecast of the two channels for 48 hours by the Narendra Modi government was "unconstitutional" and against the freedom of the press.
Read: I&B Ministry suspends two news channels over Delhi riots coverage
"All democratic minds should unite to voice against this fascist decision", he said in a Facebook post.
Many prominent political leaders including Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Shashi Tharoos, CPI(M) leader and Kerala Helath Minister KK Shailaja took to social media to condemn the move.
The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) also condemned the government decision.
"The attempt is to create a situation akin to an undeclared emergency", the KUWJ said in a statement.
This was "an attack on the freedom of the press", it said and announced protest marches would be held in the state on Saturday against the central government's action.
The ministry ordered the prohibition of transmission or retransmission of Media One and Asianet News TV for 48 hours on any platform throughout India with effect from 19:30 hrs on March 6 to 19:30 hrs March 8.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
17:15 March 07
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "It's now a crime to ask questions and depict the truth on the mayhem that was caused in Delhi. The death of the 53 people and thousand of crores of properties that were lost were the results of the provocative statements made by the BJP leaders that lead to the riots in Delhi. To hold the government accountable is the role of media and we commend the independence of Asianet News TV and Media One for raising their voice and showing the truth. We are confident that the better sense prevailed overnight to a dictatorial government on account of widespread condemnation of such an intemperate act of the government and they have now lifted the ban. Hopefully, they will not repeat such obnoxious acts of putting curbs and emergencies on the media."
07:18 March 07
CPI(M), Congress flay Centre for ban on Malayalam news channels
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): The CPI(M) and opposition Congress in Kerala on Friday slammed the Centre for suspending the broadcast of two Malayalam news channels over their coverage of violence in northeast Delhi with the ruling party terming it as "heinous attempt" to threaten the media.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry ordered the suspension of the broadcast of Asianet News TV and Media One for 48 hours, holding that the coverage was in violation of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
Criticising the Centre's action, state secretary of CPI-M, heading the ruling LDF, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged that it was a "heinous attempt" to threaten the media and bring them under their control.
"This type of action did not befit a democratic nation", he said in a statement here.
Senior Congress leader and the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the decision to stop the telecast of the two channels for 48 hours by the Narendra Modi government was "unconstitutional" and against the freedom of the press.
Read: I&B Ministry suspends two news channels over Delhi riots coverage
"All democratic minds should unite to voice against this fascist decision", he said in a Facebook post.
Many prominent political leaders including Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Shashi Tharoos, CPI(M) leader and Kerala Helath Minister KK Shailaja took to social media to condemn the move.
The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) also condemned the government decision.
"The attempt is to create a situation akin to an undeclared emergency", the KUWJ said in a statement.
This was "an attack on the freedom of the press", it said and announced protest marches would be held in the state on Saturday against the central government's action.
The ministry ordered the prohibition of transmission or retransmission of Media One and Asianet News TV for 48 hours on any platform throughout India with effect from 19:30 hrs on March 6 to 19:30 hrs March 8.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
