I&B Minister Smriti Irani urges TV news channels to exercise restraint

Smriti Irani, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, via tweets on Friday, cautioned TV news channels to exercise restraint while reporting on the violence that followed in the states of Haryana, Punjab, and some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi when Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Ram Rahim Singh was convicted of rape charges by a local court.

She tweeted:

Drawing attention of News Channels to Clause B of Fundamental Std. of NBSA refraining channels from causing panic, distress & undue fear.

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) August 25, 2017

Social media was abuzz with various reactions to Irani’s tweets, some supporting the minister’s cautionary stance. While some Twitter users opined that media was falsely reporting on incidents connected to the mob violence, others questioned Irani’s tweet.

Irani soon followed up with a second tweet:

Kindly note this advisory has been given by the offices of the National Broadcasters Association.

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) August 25, 2017

It must be noted that the Broadcast Editors Association (BEA) had issued an advisory on Friday cautioning TV news channels to “keep a careful eye on the content and views that can inflame people.”

“All editors should take utmost care while playing violence visuals of the coverage of Baba Ram Rahim case. Please verify the facts before putting them on air because lots of rumours are floating around,” said the statement by BEA.

Similarly, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) issued a statement condemning the violent attacks in addition to urging “the chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab to take action urgently to bring the situation under control in order that the media/press are able to perform their duties without fear.”

Irani tweeted for the third time condemning the violence while appealing to all to maintain peace:

Attack on media, damage to property condemnable. Appeal to all to maintain peace.

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) August 25, 2017