New Delhi. The government on Saturday advised private TV news channels to refrain from using false claims and slanderous headlines, saying provocative and socially unacceptable language was used in some discussion programs on coverage of the Ukraine-Russia war and the Delhi riots. . The government also objected to titles such as ‘Atomic Putin’ and ‘Ali, Bali and Khambali’. The government issued a strict advisory to news channels, asking them to adhere to the program code prescribed by the respective laws.
Government probes ‘incidents’ in North-West Delhi by broadcasting ‘sensational headlines/taglines’ and ‘unconfirmed CCTV footage’ by news anchors reporting Ukraine-Russia conflict Some incidents of process interruption have been cited. The government also said that some discussions on television channels on the incidents in North-West Delhi were “unparliamentary, provocative and in socially unacceptable language”.
It is worth mentioning that last week there was a clash between two communities during a procession being taken out on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti at Jahangirpuri in North West Delhi.
In the advisory issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, it has been said that in respect of the above, the Government expresses serious concern over the manner in which television channels broadcast their content. The advisory said that television channels are strictly instructed to immediately stop the transmission of any material that is in contravention of the provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the rules thereunder.
The advisory said that while reporting on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it has been observed that channels are making false claims and repeatedly quoting international agencies or individuals incorrectly and using “sensational headlines or taglines”. Those who have nothing to do with the news. It said that several journalists and news presenters of these channels made “fabricated and exaggerated” statements with the intention of inciting the viewers.
The advisory used headlines or taglines such as ‘Atomic Putin upsets Zelensky’, ‘Nuclear Action worries Zelensky depresses’ and international agencies ‘falsely quote unconfirmed claims’ that World War III has begun. also cited.
At the same time, on the Delhi riots, the ministry objected to the repeated airing of video clips of a particular community man waving a sword on a news channel and also objected to the claim of another news channel that the violence was targeted at a religious procession. was pre-planned. The ministry has also cautioned private TV channels against airing discussions which are unparliamentary, provocative and contain socially unacceptable language, communal remarks and derogatory references, which may have negative psychological impact on the viewers and Those who can disturb communal harmony and disturb peace.
