CPI(M), Congress flay centre for ban on two Malayalam TV

The CPI(M) and opposition Congress in Kerala on Friday slammed the Centre for suspending the broadcast of two Malayalam news channels over their coverage of violence in northeast Delhi with the ruling party terming it as "heinous attempt" to threaten the media.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry ordered the suspension of the broadcast of Asianet News TV and Media One for 48 hours, holding that the coverage was in violation of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.

Criticising the centre's action, state secretary of CPI- M, heading the ruling LDF, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged that it was a "heinous attempt" to threaten the media and bring them under their control.

"This type of action did not befit a democratic nation", he said in a statement here.

Senior Congress leader and the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the decision to stop the telecast of the two channels for 48 hours by the Narendra Modi government was "unconstitutional" and against the freedom of the press.

"All democratic minds should unite to voice against this fascist decision", he said in a facebook post.

The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) also condemned the government decision.

"The attempt is to create a situation akin to an undeclared emergency", the KUWJ said in a statement.

This was "an attack on the freedom of the press", it said and announced protest marches would be held in the state on Saturday against the central government's action.

The ministry ordered prohibition of transmission or re- transmission of Media One and Asianet News TV for 48 hours on any platform throughout India with effect from 19:30 hrs on March 6 to 19:30 hrs March 8.