One of India's most sober and responsible channels NDTV India has been banned for a day. According to the order of the government, NDTV will shut down for one day for allegedly revealing “strategically sensitive” details during its coverage of the Pathankot attacks in January. Amidst the tension, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal added his own two pence worth by coming out with a warning to other national news channels to take a lesson from one day shut down of NDTV channel. Effectively converting it into a political issue instead of the national security issue that it really is.
NDTV will remain shut down for 24 hours on 9th of November, 2016. As per the order of Modi government, the channel will not function for one full day due to its sensitive coverage on Pathankot attack. As the details revealed during the coverage of Pathankot attack paved a way to danger, The I&B Ministry ordered the news channel to shut down.
The Pathankot attack was carried out on 2nd January and NDTV exposed some rare and sensitive information on national TV. The information contained sensitive details about fuel-tanks, helicopters, mortars, fighter planes, and ammunition.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, they said this sensitive news could have been used by the terrorist easily which in turn would have led to causing harm to the security of the nation.
While invoking the powers under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act,to the I&B ministry, they said, “orders to prohibit the transmission or re-transmission of NDTV India channel for one day on any platform throughout India with effect from 00:01 hrs on 9th November,2016 till 00:01 hrs of 10th November, 2016”.
According to NDTV, this was an attack on free media and they are shocked at how NDTV has been singled out. Here is what NDTV said in a statement, “The order of the MIB has been received. It is shocking that NDTV has been singled out in this manner. Every channel and newspaper had similar coverage. In fact, NDTV’s coverage was particularly balanced. After the dark days of the emergency when the press was fettered, it is extraordinary that NDTV is being proceeded against in this manner. NDTV is examining all options in this matter.”
Amidst all of these, Chief Minister of Delhi, Kejriwal took to twitter to warn other channels to learn a lesson from NDTV’s one day shut down. His campaign against the Indian Prime Minister has gained legendary status and predictably he is using the rap on the knuckles of a news channel for leaking sensitive material while India was under attack, to create a negative impression of PM Narendra Modi.
His tweet said, “Listen to me all you channels. Your channels too will be closed if you don’t continue to worship Modi ji." How does worshipping Modi come into this though? It is a question of national security. But then the Chief Minister and his family get special security don't they? They aren't aam aadmi anymore. Kejriwal’s former colleague and renowned Supreme Court lawyer, Prashant Bhushan said that 24 hours shut down for a channel is the most serious attack on free media. The question remains whether 'free media' is more important or protecting the nation is more important?
This is the first time when such a shutdown order has been issued against a TV channel for its coverage of a terror attack under norms which were notified last year. NDTV is not denying that they shared sensitive material, NDTV is objecting to the fact that only they are being shutdown while other channels who shared similar footage and information are not being penalised. NDTV has the option to appeal the order before a tribunal.
How NDTV proceeds on this is up to them and they do have options. However, if there is a lesson to be taken out of this story, then it is that media has a responsibility towards the nation. While it is required to be honest and unbiased, it also has to be cognizant of how the information they are broadcasting could be used, or misused.
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