Himachal Congress criticises PM Modi for one-day ban on NDTV India

Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the one-day ban on news channel NDTV India, the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) said it was "undemocratic, unconstitutional and seemed dictatorial."

The Congress party would stage one-hour protests (from 11.30 AM to 12.30 PM) across the state on November 7 against the government's decision, a party release said.

Party leaders and workers will tie black bands on their mouths. The protest in Shimla will be led by HPCC chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, it said.

The protests at the district headquarters would be led by senior party leaders and MLAs, the release said.

"The Modi government's order to impose a one-day ban on Hindi news channel NDTV India showed that an Emergency-like environment prevailed in the country," Sukhu alleged.

He termed the action as "a blow to the fourth pillar of democracy" and demanded the ban be withdrawn immediately.

"The decision to take the channel off the air for a day is in direct violation of the freedom of media, the citizens of India and amounts to censorship imposed by the government, a reminiscent of the Emergency," he said.

"Was detaining Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi the 'achhe din' (good days) Modi had promised?" he asked.

"Rahul Gandhi had gone to meet family members of a 70-year-old ex-serviceman who allegedly committed suicide over the OROP (One Rank, One Pension) issue. His detention seems to bear the imprint of a gag order and it also suggests Modi is implementing a Gujarat Model in the country," he alleged.