By A Correspondent

The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has condemned the decision of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to impose a 48 hours  ban on Asianet News and Media One News, two news channels of Kerala.

President Rajat Sharma stated that NBA appreciates the concern shown by the  Prime Minister in this matter and the subsequent withdrawal of the ban imposed on the two news channels. He stated that it is shocked to learn that a decision like this was taken without the knowledge of the Minister for Information & Broadcasting. NBA demands that the Minister should institute an inquiry as to how the Order prohibiting the news channels from broadcasting was issued without his approval. NBA would like the inquiry report to be shared with it.

NBA is of the view that all complaints relating to broadcast of news should be referred to the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) the self-regulatory body headed by retired Hon’ble Justice A.K, Sikri, former judge of the Supreme Court of India in order to avoid recurrence of similar incidents in future.