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NDTV to be taken off air in India for a day over ‘reckless’ terror coverage

However, the news channel denies the accusation; says its coverage was ‘particularly balanced’

News Desk November 04, 2016

Indian security personnel stand guard inside the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in Punjab. PHOTO: REUTERS

India’s information and broadcasting ministry has recommended a 24-hour ban on NDTV for the news channel's reckless coverage of a militant attack on the country’s Pathankot airbase earlier this year.

According to The Indian Express, the first-of-its-kind order has imposed a blackout prohibiting “the transmission or re-transmission of NDTV India channel for one day on any platform throughout India with effect from 00:01hrs on 9th November to 00:01hrs of 10th November”.

The ministry said that the channel would be taken off air on 9 November for 24 hours for revealing information on ammunition and the locations of military planes.

The Editors Guild of India issues a powerful statement against the Govt's order banning NDTV India pic.twitter.com/lDr59aYZBR
— Saikat Datta (@saikatd) November 4, 2016

The NDTV, however, denied the accusation, saying its coverage was ‘particularly balanced’. “It is shocking that NDTV has been singled out in this manner … NDTV’s coverage was particularly balanced,” said a statement by the news channel.

Gunmen mount brazen attack on Indian air base

“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,” the communique added.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government for putting a one-day ban on the news channel, saying it showed that an "emergency-like situation" prevailed in the country.

"NDTV ban is shocking. If [the] government had issues with Pathankot coverage, there are provisions available. But ban shows an Emergency-like attitude," the Press Trust of India quoted Banerjee as saying.

Seven Indian soldiers were killed after militants launched a brazen attack on a high-security airbase in Pathankot near the border with Pakistan. India had claimed the attack was carried out by Masood Azhar-led militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed.