‘Don’t Promote Anti-National Attitudes’: I&B Ministry's Gag Order To TV Channels After Passage Of Citizenship Amendment Bill

The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry, on Wednesday, December 11, issued an advisory to all private satellite TV channels to refrain from broadcasting content that could incite violence.

Signed by Ministry Director Amit Katoch, the one-page advisory has asked TV channels to broadcast content ‘strictly in adherence’ to the Programme and Advertising Codes as prescribed in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.

The statement has asked TV channels to refrain from broadcasting content which is ‘likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order’. The advisory further added to avoid any content that ‘promotes anti-national attitudes and/or contains anything affecting the integrity of the nation.’

The advisory comes in the backdrop of widespread protests in North East against the Citizenship Amendment Bill(CAB), which passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday, December 9 and later passed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Opposition Protest Against The Advisory

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress (TMC) parliamentary party leader Derek O’Brien on Thursday, December 12, issued a Zero Hour notice in the Upper Hour over the I&B Ministry’s notice.

In a tweet earlier today, O’Brien called the advisory a ‘second emergency.’

“I&B Ministry Advisory to TV channels tantamount to media censorship… Stop intimidating the media… A second Emergency!,” he tweeted.

I&B Ministry Advisory to TV channels tantamount to media censorship #CitizenAmendmentBill2019 Stop intimidating the #media A second Emergency! pic.twitter.com/YcrEIv6g1j

— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) December 12, 2019

“By issuing this advisory, is the Govt is actually ordering the Media to not show protests against the CAB? After internet ban, this is Media ban. Repression at any cost. Condemnable to say the least,” tweeted Congress leader Pranav Jha.

By issuing this advisory, is the Govt is actually ordering the Media to not show protests against the #CAB ?
After internet ban, this is Media ban. Repression at any cost.

Condemnable to say the least. pic.twitter.com/8d6NGlM8lD

— pranav jha (@pranavINC) December 12, 2019

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