The government has requested commercial TV networks to desist from using aggressive and socially undesirable language and to comply to the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the programming code, citing news broadcasts about the Russia-Ukraine war and communal unrest in Delhi.
On Apr 23, 2022, 1:42 PM Information and Broadcasting Ministry issued advisory for cable TV channels to stop using socially unacceptable language and misleading information on Russia Ukraine War, and the communal violance in Delhi Jahangirpuri area.
A five-page advisory of the I&B ministry has been issued for the private tv channels as a reminder that the government exercises the right to “regulate or prohibit” transmission or retransmission of channels in the interest of India’s security, sovereignty, integrity, or in the interest of its friendly ties with a foreign State, or for the sake of “public order, decency or morality”.
Despite existing restrictions, broadcasters broadcast content that “appears to be inauthentic, misleading, sensational, and employing socially undesirable language and statements, insulting good taste and decency, and vulgar and defamatory with community connotations.” “Channels have been making incorrect statements and misquoting international agencies/actors on a regular basis… Using’scandalous headlines/taglines’ that have nothing to do with the story
As per Section 6: (1) Of The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, No programme should be carried in the cable service which
- offends against good taste or decency;
- contains criticism of friendly countries;
- contains attack on religions or communities or visuals or words contemptuous of religious groups which promote communal attitudes;
- contains anything, obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths
In the recent past several Satellite TV channels have carried out coverage of events and incidents in a manner which appears to be unauthentic, misleading, sensational and using socially unacceptable language and remarks, offending good taste and decency, and obscene and defamatory and having communal overtones, all of which appear to be violative of the Programme Code and infringement of the provisions of sub-section (2) of Section 20 of the aforementioned Act. In particular, attention is invited to reporting on Russia-Ukraine conflict, certain incidents in North-West Delhi and of certain news debates
In respect of reporting on Russia-Ukraine conflict
- Channels have been making false claims and frequently misquoting International agencies/actors.
- Ussing ‘scandalous headlines/taglines’ that are completely unrelated to the news item.
- Many of the journalists and news anchors of these channels made fabricated and hyperbolic statements intending to incite the audiences
For Example: One channel aired fabricated pictures claiming to be the proof of the upcoming Nuclear attack on Ukraine. This completely speculative news story seems to be intending to misguide the viewers and arouse psychological upheavals inside them. The show titled ‘Ye Raat Kayamat Wali Hai?’ aired on 20th April 2022
Similarly, A journalist of one channel while reporting from Mykolaiv made several unfactual comments that seemed to be promoting war with statements such as ‘Russia Parmanu Hamla Kab Karega? Kahan karega?’ the channel used taglines like ‘ ‘Vishwa Yudha ke Muhane par Duniya’ on 20th April, 2022.
There are numerous attempt made to manufacture false news on Russia-Ukraine war conflicts. These details are present in the five page notice issued by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Regarding North-West Delhi incident coverage
Many news channel covered North-West Delhi communal incident with some misleading & sensational Headline Such as
- ‘Badi Sajis Dange Wali, Karauli, Khargone vaya Delhi’ (Date: 17th April, 2022)
- A channel repeatedly carried a video clipping of a man belonging to a specific community carrying a sword.
- Channels claims that this video depicts that it was pre-planned to spread violence in a religious procession. (19th April, 2022)
Apart from that, Many News Debates are held by using these fake information and many socially unacceptable languages are said during these news debates. Examples are
- A news channel debate show titled ‘अली Vs बली, कह ांकह ांखलबली?’ aired on 15th April, 2022 on the ‘Loudspeaker rules’ have instances where panellists have used derogatory terms and there were also some communal comments made during the show,
- A journalist of a channel during a prime time show titled ‘अली, बजरांगबली पर खलबली’ aired on 15th April, 2022, used instigating statements and derogatory references.
Government expresses serious concern about the manner in which the television channels have gone about their operations in the matter of transmitting content and are hereby strongly advised to immediately refrain from publishing and transmitting any content which is violative of the aforementioned provisions of The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
Link To The Official Document: Click here
For More Daily News Please Visit The ViralByte Daily News Section.