From AAP to BJP: Who said what about NDTV India one-day blackout

On November 3, NDTV was ordered by the government to be taken off air for a day after an inter-ministerial panel constituted by the I&B ministry recommended this action over the broadcaster's coverage of the Pathankot terror attack in January.

An inter-ministerial panel had concluded that the channel NDTV India had revealed crucial and "strategically sensitive" information when the terror attack on an IAF base was being carried out, official sources said.

The Information and Broadcasting ministry while invoking the powers under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act said it "orders to prohibit the transmission or re-transmission of NDTV India channel for one day on any platform throughout India with effect from 00:01 hrs on 9th November,2016 till 00:01 hrs of 10th November, 2016".

This is the first ever such order against a TV channel over its coverage of a terror attack, the norms regarding which were notified in 2015.

This action by the Government has been widely criticised by all the political heads, while a few stood in support of the ban. Here is how they reacted.

1. Venkaiah Naidu, Minister of Information and Broadcasting: "I was surprised, aghast. Some people talked of Emergency-like situation. The action was taken in the interest of the country's safety and security", he said, adding, "Politicisation of such issues will affect the safety and security of the country."

He also said,""AXN was banned for two months. FTV was banned for two months. Enter10 for one day. ABN AndhraJyoti seven days. Al Jazeera was banned for five days for showing wrong map of India. These are all done earlier. Now they are saying it is done for the first time, murder of democracy, Emergency reminiscent and all."

2. M Karunanidhi, DMK Chief: "If the Central government continues with such activities, it will lead to a second Emergency and those black days will be etched in the minds of people," Karunanidhi said, adding the action reminded him of the Emergency days when his articles in party mouthpiece 'Murasoli' were 'banned' then.

3. Lalu Prasad Yadav, President of Rashtriya Jananta Dal: "Narendra Modi, BJP and RSS is taking country toward emergency and dictatorship", Lalu said while addressing Samajwadi Party(SP) celebrations in Lucknow.

4. Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar: "The central government's decision to ban NDTV India is condemnable. The decision is tantamount to controlling the freedom of media. It is quite necessary to have a free and impartial media in a country like India," Kumar said in a statement.

5. Sitaram Yechury, Leader of the CPI (M): "It is ironical that while the Prime Minister delivered speech on dangers of emergency at an award function, at the very moment, a senior Parliamentarian (Rahul Gandhi) and the Delhi Chief Minister (Arvind Kejriwal) were taken into custody. And on top of that now comes the attack on freedom of expression (the taking off air of NDTV India). This is an undeclared emergency. So, this is something that is not acceptable in our democracy."

6. Sharad Yadav, Senior JD (U) leader: "I am shocked... I highly condemn this decision of the government. It is an infringement on the freedom of speech as provided in the Constitution of India. Further, without going into the details of what this channel has shown and other channels have shown while covering the Pathankot terrorist attack, it is completely unfair to take such an action against this channel."

"I do not remember such an action has been taken by any government in the past after the Emergency period. From now on the press will have fear in their minds while giving free and fair news. It is a great threat to democracy," he said.

7. Shrikant Sharma, National Secretary, BJP: "We support the freedom of press in a democracy. But nation comes first and there cannot be any compromise with national security."

8. Tathagata Satpathy, BJD leader and Editor of two Odiya newspapers: "I feel people in power have become very paranoid. No administration can function with equanimity in a state of paranoia. November 9 is a black day for democracy."

9. Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi: "I hope the whole media goes off air for a day in solidarity wid NDTV. Congratulations to Editors Guild for showing courage to stand up against Modi Govt's dictatorship," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

10. Broadcast Editors' Association: "Broadcast Editors' Association expressed deep concern at the government's decision to ban NDTV India for a day. Imposing a ban is a violation of freedom of expression and the decision should be withdrawn immediately," the BEA said in a statement.

11. Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal: "NDTV ban is shocking. If Government had issues with Pathankot coverage, there are provisions available. But ban shows an Emergency-like attitude."

12. Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu & Kahsmir: "NDTV India ordered off the air, opposition leaders detained for wanting to show solidarity with family of dead solider. 'Achhe din anyone?'" Omar wrote on Twitter.

13. The Editor's Guild of India: "The Editors Guild of India strongly condemns the unprecedented decision of the inter-ministerial committee of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to take NDTV India off the air for a day and demands that the order be immediately rescinded," the Guild said in a statement.

14. NDTV: "The order of the MIB has been received. It is shocking that NDTV has been singled out in this manner. Every channel and newspaper had similar coverage. In fact NDTV's coverage was particularly balanced," a statement posted by the broadcaster on its website said.

Currently, the order on ban is still in place.

(With agency inputs)