Shocked that Malayalam channels ban step taken 'without' I&B minister's knowledge: NBA
New Delhi: The News Broadcasters Association has said it was "shocked" that the decision to ban two Malayalam news channels was taken "without the knowledge" of Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, and demanded an inquiry into how this happened.
In a statement, NBA president Rajat Sharma said it condemned the decision of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to impose the 48-hour ban on Asianet News and Media One News, two news channels based in Kerala.
Sharma said the NBA appreciated the concern shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this matter and the subsequent withdrawal of the ban imposed on the two news channels.
He stated the NBA was "shocked to learn that a decision like this was taken without the knowledge of the Minister for Information & Broadcasting".
"NBA demands that the Minister should institute an inquiry as to how the order prohibiting the news channels from broadcasting was issued without his approval," the statement issued late on Saturday said. "NBA would like the inquiry report to be shared with it."
The NBA is of the view that all complaints relating to broadcast of news should be referred to the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) -- the self-regulatory body headed by former Supreme Court Judge (retd) A K Sikri -- in order to avoid recurrence of similar incidents in future, it said.
The Centre had on Saturday revoked a 48-hour ban on the two leading Malayalam news channels, hours after imposing the punitive measure on separate charges of "siding with one community" while covering last month's communal violence in northeast Delhi, and being critical of the police and RSS.
Javadekar had said on Saturday that Modi had expressed concern over the entire issue, adding that the government supported press freedom.
Without going into specifics, the minister had said he would look into the matter and take "essential steps" if any wrongdoing is found.
"But let me also tell you that everybody should accept that there has to be responsible freedom," he had said.
The channels were suspended for 48 hours beginning 7.30 pm on Friday over their coverage of the violence. The official orders said the channels covered events of February 25 in a manner that "highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community".
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Conspiracy afoot to 'tarnish' image of Dharmasthala: Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Aug 14 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said there was a “conspiracy” to tarnish the image of Dharmasthala.
His comments come amid an ongoing investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into serious allegations of mass burials in the revered temple town in Dakshina Kannada district.
“A conspiracy is being hatched to destroy hundreds of years of legacy. It is not correct to tarnish someone just like that. It has all happened due to one complainant,” he said.
Noting that some Congress MLAs have called for action against those involved in the slander campaign at the legislature party meeting, he said, “ I have told them that action must be taken against those who are indulging in a slander campaign. The CM has also said that action must be taken against such people.”
“I have information on this case. Religious feelings should not be hurt in any manner. Culprits must be punished,” he told reporters, according to a release from his office.
Responding to a question, Shivakumar said the Congress party will not allow the image of any religious place to be tarnished.
“We see everyone equally when it comes to religion,” he added.
The SIT, formed by the state government, is probing claims of mass murder, rape, and mass burials in Dharmasthala over the past two decades.
The complainant, a former sanitation worker whose identity has not been revealed, alleged that between 1995 and 2014 he was forced to handle bodies—including women and minors—and that some showed signs of sexual assault. He has given a statement before a magistrate.
As part of the probe, the SIT has been conducting exhumations at multiple locations identified by the complainant-witness in the forested areas along the banks of the Netravathi River in Dharmasthala, where some skeletal remains have been found at two sites so far.
