YouTube channel banned over ‘national security’, editor-in-chief claims it was only asking questions
New Delhi: YouTube news channel 4PM has been banned in India following a government order linked to concerns over “national security or public order.”
The channel’s owner and editor-in-chief, Sanjay Sharma, confirmed the development, revealing that he had received an email from YouTube on Tuesday morning notifying him that the channel had been closed in compliance with government directions, as reported by Newslaundry.
Sharma expressed concern over the ban, asserting that the channel had only been seeking to ask the government questions about ongoing issues. “I am concerned about national security and was only asking the government questions,” Newslaundry quoted Sharma as saying.
The specific reasons behind the government's order for the ban remain unclear.
In recent days, 4PM had uploaded numerous videos questioning the Narendra Modi government’s handling of the Pahalgam attack, including attention-grabbing headlines such as, “Pahalgam hamle ka khul gaya raaz. Raaton raat kya hua ki hat gayi sena?” (The truth behind the Pahalgam attack revealed. What happened overnight that the army was withdrawn?) and “Laal kaaleen par Amit Shah ka swaagat. Mritakon ko shraddhanjali dene gaye the ya tamasha banaane?” (Amit Shah was welcomed on red carpet. Was he there to pay respects to the deceased or create a spectacle?).
At the time of writing this report, a message on 4PM’s YouTube page read: “This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order.” Viewers were directed to the Google Transparency Report for further details about government removal requests.
4PM operates six other YouTube channels, including 4PM UP and 4PM Rajasthan. The ban comes just a day after the Indian government banned sixteen Pakistani YouTube channels in India.
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RCB pip CSK by two runs in last-ball IPL thriller
Bengaluru: Ayush Mhatre's 94 and Ravindra Jadeja's 77 not out went in vain as Royal Challengers Bengaluru pipped Chennai Super Kings by two runs in their IPL match here on Saturday.
Chasing 214, CSK scored 211 for 5 in their 20 overs.
Mhatre scored a 48-ball 94 with five sixes and nine fours while adding 114 runs with Jadeja (77 not out off 45 balls, 8x4s, 2x6s) for the second wicket.
For RCB, Lungi Ngidi returned with figures of 3/30.
Earlier, half-centuries from Jacob Bethell (55), Virat Kohli (62) and Romario Shepherd (53 not out) took RCB to 213 for five.
While Bethell and Kohli put on 97 runs for the opening wicket to set a platform, Shepherd blasted four fours and six sixes to make 53 not out off only 14 balls, recording the fastest fifty of the season and joint second-fastest overall.
For CSK, Matheesha Pathirana found his rhythm and lengths to return 3-0-36-3.
Brief scores:
RCB: 213 for 5 in 20 overs (Jacob Bethell 55, Virat Kohli 62, Romario Shepherd 53 not out; Matheesha Pathirana 3/36).
CSK: 211 for 5 in 20 overs (Ayush Mhatre 94, Ravindra Jadeja 77 not out; Lungi Ngidi 3/30).
