Opposition calls news channel ban a 'second Emergency'

NEW DELHI: As the war of words over the one-day ban on Hindi news channel NDTV India between the Centre and opposition escalated on Saturday, the government held its ground with Union ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Manohar Parrikar saying it was in the interest of the “country's security“. The opposition, on the other hand, claimed that the ban was declaration of a “second Emergency“.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, fellow JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, DMK chief M Karunanidhi, BSP supremo Mayawati and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav hit out at the Centre, calling the ban an “insult to freedom of expression“ and demanded its withdrawal. The CPM politburo claimed it was another demonstration of the “authoritarian“ attitude of the Narendra Modi government.

Union I&B minister Naidu denounced references to the Emergency in the context of the order for blackout of the channel on November 9 over its coverage of Pathankot attack, and slammed opposition parties for “politicising“ the issue. Parrikar, too, justified the government's action, saying NDTV India appeared to have violated the guidelines issued by the Centre over live coverage of an anti-terror operation.

CPM demanded immediate withdrawal of the ban order and an assurance from the government “that such arbitrary actions will not be undertaken in the future.“

In a statement, the party politburo condemned the order and said, “This is a brazen attack on media freedom and an attempt to gag freedom of expression.“ “The central govern ment's decision to ban NDTV India is condemnable. The decision tantamounts to controlling the freedom of media.It is quite necessary to have a free and impartial media in a country like India,“ Nitish said in a statement in Patna.At a news conference in Lucknow, Mayawati, too, accused the Modi government of throttling freedom of press.

“If the Centre continues with such activities, it will lead to a second Emergency and those black days will be etched in the minds of people,“ Karunanidhi said, adding the action reminded him of the Emergency days when his articles in party mouthpiece `Murasoli' were `banned'.

Lalu Prasad said the ban was an attack on democracy .“Modi, BJP and RSS is taking the country towards emergency and dictatorship,“ he said while addressing SP celebrations in Lucknow.