NDTV is being taken off the air for 24 hours as a penalty for revealing secret information.
NDTV is being taken off the air for 24 hours as a penalty for revealing secret information.
SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — Indian news channel NDTV will be taken off the air for 24 hours as a penalty for its coverage of an attack on an air force base.
The ministry of information and broadcasting said NDTV Hindi revealed “strategically-sensitive details” while covering the attack on the Pathankot air force base in January.
The channel denied the allegation, saying instead their coverage was “particularly balanced.”
Seven Indian soldiers were killed in the attack, along with six militants. India accused Pakistan-based group Jaish-e-Mohammad of carrying out the assault.
However, the ministry said the channel would be taken off air on Nov. 9 for 24 hours as a penalty for allegedly revealing information on ammunition and the locations of military planes. This has reported as the first occurrence of an order being taken against an Indian broadcaster over its coverage on terrorist attacks. NDTV said it was looking at “all possible options” in response to the “extraordinary order.”
The channel has also received support from the Editors Guild of India, an organisation of top editors which condemned the “unprecedented decision.”
The group demanded the order be rescinded.
The topic is also trending on Twitter, opinions can be viewed by searching for the hashtag: #NDTVBanned.
