2 channels asked to explain why they telecast Pak army briefing The I&B ministry has sent identical notices to ABP News and Tiranga TV

Soldiers carry the remains of a CRPF jawan at the site of the explosion that killed at least 40 soldiers in Pulwama, Kashmir on February 14, 2019. (AP file picture)

TT, 27 February 2019, New Delhi: Two news channels have been showcaused by the information and broadcasting ministry for telecasting a media briefing by Pakistan Army spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor, on February 22.

An official said the identical notices to ABP News and Tiranga TV mentioned that they “appear to have violated” sub-sections “e” and “h” of Rule 6[1] of the Programme Code, under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. The sub-sections prohibit channels from airing content “which is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promote anti-national attitudes”, and “which contains anything affecting the integrity of the Nation”.

In his briefing, Ghafoor had hinted the February 14 Pulwama attack was a staged incident. After the suicide bombing that killed 40 CRPF personnel, the ministry issued an advisory reiterating these rules.

In the notice to Tiranga TV on February 23, director (broadcasting) Amit Katoch wrote: “…There was no intervention from the channel on the correctness or otherwise of the claims made in the said media briefing in order to ensure that there is no violation of the aforementioned Rules.”

The channels have been given time till Saturday to say why action against them should not be taken under the 1995 Act, the Uplinking/ Downlinking Guidelines, 2011, and the terms and conditions of the permission granted to them to operate.

Asked whether there were any specific restrictions on telecasting public statements of authorities of foreign countries, a ministry spokesperson told The Telegraph: “There are no additional dos and don’ts as to what can or cannot be telecast, over and above the rules that are already laid down. The ministry examines content on a case-by-case basis and sends notices if material telecast is found to be in violation. Channels get an opportunity to explain their content with respect to these already existing rules.”