Bhubaneswar: The Press Club of Odisha has strongly protested the Centre’s decision to ban news channel NDTV India for a day on November 9 for ‘airing’ sensitive information during the terror attack coverage on Pathankot Air Base in January.
Expressing anguish over the Centre’s decision, journalists termed it as an attempt to curb the freedom of expression and freedom of press.
“What was the security breach due to the telecast of certain news in NDTV? They (I&B ministry) should either reprimand or give certain strictures on airing of news items. Abruptly deciding something is certainly condemnable. Besides they (news channel) must be given scope to present their side,” said Dilip Satapathy, senior Journalist.
“I feel the show cause notice should be sent to the concerned media house on the issue, if the government observed that the channel has aired something against the interest of national security. If it is (channel) violating any code of conduct, then action should be taken,” said K Ravi, senior journalist.
A resolution condemning the Centre's decision was also passed at the meeting.
“We condemn it. The ban is certainly an attempt to rip apart the country's democratic fabric by stifling the free voice of the independent media. We won’t remain as mute spectator to this brazen murder of democracy and assault on free speech by the government,” said Tathagat Satapathy, president, Press Club of Odisha.
The decision on the blackout, to be imposed on November 9, has drawn sharp condemnation from Opposition parties and media bodies which called it "shocking and authoritarian" and reminiscent of the Emergency days.