NBA slams MIB’s 48-hr ban on Asianet News & Media One News channels

The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has condemned the decision of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) to impose a 48-hour ban on Asianet News and Media One News for their coverage of the CAA-related riots in Delhi recently. 

In a statement issued, Rajat Sharma, President, NBA, “Stated that it is shocked to learn that a decision like this was taken without the knowledge of the Minister for Information & Broadcasting. NBA demands that the Minister should institute an inquiry as to how the Order prohibiting the news channels from broadcasting was issued without his approval. NBA would like the inquiry report to be shared with it.” 

Sharma added that that NBA appreciated the concern shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this matter and the subsequent withdrawal of the ban imposed on the two Malayalam news channels. 

“NBA is of the view that all complaints relating to broadcast of news should be referred to the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) the self-regulatory body headed by retired Hon’ble Justice AK, Sikri, former judge of the Supreme Court of India, in order to avoid recurrence of similar incidents in future,” the statement added.