‘Indian Liberal intellectuals’ who have been famously described as being neither Indian, nor liberal, nor Intellectual are once again up in arms. This time over the one day ban imposed by the I&B ministry on NDTV India, a private news channel, more renowned for one of its rabid anchors asking ‘Kaun jaat ho‘ than for the quality of its news reports. The ban, is variously described as being ‘shocking’, ‘reminiscent of dark days of emergency’, ‘assault on freedom of media’, ‘imposition of censorship’ etc. The Editors’ guild of India has come down strongly against the government for its decision. For all its supposed unbiased and self-proclaimed impartiality, our Media behaves like a typical Union body whenever the vested interests of one of its constituents come under the scanner. For instance, in this case, the Editors’ Guild has chosen to put ‘Media freedom’ on a higher pedestal than national security. The fact that Media is misusing its freedom to drive a partisan agenda and to undermine the security of the nation does not seem to cross the mind of the Editors’ Guild. To them, the monetary loss suffered by one day of blackout of the odious NDTV India is enough to rally their supporters behind a ‘Media freedom under threat’ banner. This duplicity is vexing and highly exasperating.
The ban on NDTV India has been imposed under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act which empowers the government to put reasonable restrictions on news channels in matters relating to national security. In March 2015, the government restricted the live coverage of anti-terrorist operation by security forces. This amendment resulted specifically from the experience during 26/11 terror strikes when coverage by Indian channels was shown to have been used by terrorists and their handlers to target the security forces and throw a spanner in their defence. NDTV India was shown to have covered the Pathankot terror strikes in a way that resulted in information on ammunition being stockpiled in the base, MIGs, fighter planes, rocket launchers, mortars, helicopters, fuel tanks etc. being shared on Television at a time when the counter-terror ops were on. The channel had also shared precise location of the area where the terrorists were holed up, the location of the school and residential areas. This information could have been used by the terrorists and their handlers and could have jeopardized the security of security forces as well as the civilians. The government on its part also constituted an Inter-ministerial committee to assess the case. The inter-ministerial committee strongly recommended that action be taken against the errant channel and while it was inclined to recommend taking NDTV India off air for 30 days, it was recommending only a 1 day penalty given that this was the first time the government was taking action against a channel for endangering national security, the change in rules for which was effected only in June 2015. The committee noted that the channel’s indiscretion had been proven beyond doubt and that the rule on national security had been flagrantly violated in this case. Before this incident too, channels have been taken off air for reasons such as airing explicit content etc.
Given these facts, one wonders if the Editors’ Guild or the Mainstream Media Mafia has any valid ground to protest against the government’s decision. As with any freedom, Media freedom cannot be absolute and must be subordinated to national interest. The country had to pay a heavy price for Media’s behavior during the 26/11 attacks when it chose to reveal the Security Forces’ position and plans which were subsequently used by terrorist handlers in Pakistan. The government is well within its rights to impose reasonable restrictions on the Media so that the security of the nation is not imperiled. Media cannot claim to shed tears on loss of freedom when it refuses to exercise reasonable restraints on its own behavior.
NDTV India’s response to government’s notice points towards the channel’s refusal to own up to its own indiscretion. The channel claims that this is a case of ‘subjective interpretation’ as most of the information was already in public domain in print, electronic and social media. This is a shameful attempt by NDTV to defend its execrable actions. The fact of the matter is that Mainstream Media, including NDTV will readily sell the nation, if it can boost their TRPs by some points. Had NDTV been a responsible channel, it would have expressed remorse and instituted mechanisms to ensure that there would be no repeat blunders on its part in such sensitive situations. The fact that it has chosen to disregard government rules and then argue on the basis of ‘subjective interpretation’ leads one to believe that NDTV knew that the Mainstream Media mafia would stand with it and that NDTV felt emboldened by the support expected from Media cartel.
Democracy functions on a system of checks and balances. Legislature’s powers are checked by the judiciary, Executive’s by the Legislature and so on. Media is a crucial element of a democratic set-up. It creates awareness amongst masses to ensure that all organs of democracy restrain themselves and act as per law. Unfortunately, there is no system of checks and balances as far as the Media is concerned. It is the perpetrator, the lawyer and the judge of its own cause. For instance, in this case, NDTV websites and channels are openly decrying the government’s action and crying themselves hoarse on ‘Media freedom under threat’. How is that fair? How can a criminal propagate its own side of the story so shamelessly and attempt to influence public opinion against the government’s decision. The same thing happened when the Enforcement Directorate was investigating NDTV for FEMA breach. The channel ran news items on how it was being harassed by the government. Just because Media has unfettered access to shape public opinion, can it choose to push its own biased and insidious agenda? The Editors’ Guild, a body made up of Media men is the last organization that will be a fair judge, so vested are its interests. All this lends credence to the theory that the government must actively institute measures that checks the power of Media.
Among all Mainstream Media, NDTV enjoys the special ill-repute of constantly working against the interests of the nation. Its news is biased on most accounts, its personalities are themselves frequent targets of behaviors unworthy of journalists and yet it is allowed to spew venom against the nation and the government. There can be no greater Media freedom than this. However, NDTV must be made to understand that there is a line called National Security which it dare not cross.