Asianet attack case: NBDA President writes to Kerala CM seeking intervention

Avinash Pandey, President, News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA), has addressed a letter dated March 06, 2023 to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take immediate action against the individuals and officials who attacked and/or searched the premises of the office of Malayalam news channel Asianet in Kochi and Kozhikode, Kerala.

In his letter, Pandey referred to the attack by Student Federation of India (SFI) activists at the premises of Asianet News Network (a member of the NBDA) in Kochi and the subsequent police search conducted at its office in Kozhikode, Kerala.

Pandey wrote, “NBDA maintains that while no individual or institution is above the law, however, it condemns any attempt to muzzle the media and thereby cause any interference with the free functioning of news operations. Such attacks and searches are not only unacceptable, but they also undermine the basic tenets of freedom of speech and expression enshrined in the Constitution of India.”

“We sincerely urge you and the State administration to take immediate action against the individuals and officials who attacked and/or searched the office premises of Asianet and ensure that journalists and media persons are allowed to perform their duties in a free and fearless manner,” he added.

Earlier, NBDA had issued an official statement wherein it slammed the attack as well as the subsequent police action on Asianet’s offices.

Also read:

NBDA condemns attack by SFI activists & police search of offices of Asianet

https://www.adgully.com/nbda-condemns-attack-by-sfi-activists-police-search-of-offices-of-asianet-129258.html

Continuing further, Pandey wrote, “As an Association, we believe in promoting excellence in broadcasting standards and all Members are governed by the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards. As a result, we have constituted an independent Self-Regulatory Adjudicatory Body, namely the “News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority” (NBDSA), which is headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge Justice AK Sikri. NBDSA considers and adjudicates upon complaints with respect to broadcasts/ publications, including all content which violates the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards and the Guidelines issued by it. All such complaints can be made to News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority.”

He emphasised that it would be in the larger interest of freedom of speech and expression of the media, if in future any complaint with regard to any broadcaster/ digital news media entity is decided by NBDSA.