Editors' body demands withdrawal of one-day ban on NDTV India

Broadcast Editors' Association says it will go into the issue in detail, claims ban is a violation of freedom of expression

The Broadcast Editors' Association (BEA) has expressed concern on the I&B ministry's decision to impose a one-day ban on 'NDTV India' and demanded that the order be withdrawn immediately.

In a statement, the BEA, which has senior journalists of leading news channels as members, said that it would go into the issue in detail and come out with a comprehensive report on it.

"Broadcast Editors' Association expressed deep concern at the government's decision to ban NDTV India for a day. Imposing a ban is a violation of freedom of expression and the decision should be withdrawn immediately," the BEA said in a statement today.

The statement, issued by BEA President Shazi Zaman and General Secretary N K Singh, added that the editors' association would go into the issue.

Earlier, the I&B ministry had issued an ordered saying that NDTV India should be taken off air for a day after an inter-ministerial panel constituted by the ministry recommended this action over the broadcaster's coverage of the Pathankot terror attack in January.

The panel had concluded that the channel 'NDTV India' had revealed crucial and "strategically sensitive" information when the terror attack on an IAF base was being carried out.

The broadcaster in its statement has claimed that 'NDTV India' had been "particularly balanced" in its coverage and is shocked at being "singled out".