Don’t give terrorists a platform: Union Govt Issues Advisory to TV Channels 

Advisory to TV Channels: The Centre issued an advise to private media networks on Thursday to avoid from interviewing persons associated with terrorism.

The warning comes amid deteriorating relations between India and Canada as a result of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s public assertions that India played a part in the death of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Following multiple aggressive moves from both India and Canada, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an Indian wanted terrorist, appeared on a television program. However, neither Pannun nor Canada are mentioned in the advice.

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TV Channels Under Scrutiny

“It has come to the attention of this Ministry that a person in a foreign country, against whom there are serious cases of crime, including terrorism, belonging to an organization which has been proscribed by law in India, was invited for a discussion on a television channel, wherein the said person made several comments/remarks that were detrimental to the country’s sovereignty/integrity, security, friendly relations with a foreign state.

“While the Government upholds media freedom and respects its rights under the Constitution, content telecast by TV channels must adhere to the provisions of the CTN Act, 1995, including subsection (2) of Section 20,” the advisory stated.

“In light of the foregoing, television channels are advised to refrain from giving any platform to reports/references about and views/agenda of persons of such background, including those facing serious crime/terrorism charges and belonging to organizations proscribed by law, having regard to the reasonable restrictions laid down in Article 19(2) of the Constitution and mentioned in sub-section (2) of Section 20 of the CTN Act,”

The order is in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of state, friendly relations of India with any foreign state, or public order or morality, the advisory said.

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