SDPI demands forthwith withdrawal of notices to 3 TV channels

PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, 10 Aug 2015

SNN:

The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) organized a protest demonstration in front of the office of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting demanding withdrawal of the show-cause notices issued to the three television channels over coverage of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon’s hanging. The party activists charged that an attempt is being made to muzzle media, which is the fourth pillar of democracy, and thereby encroach upon the freedom of free speech as guaranteed in the Constitution of India.

SDPI national president A. Sayeed while expressing deep anguish at the show-cause notices said that it is a blatant attempt to suppress freedom of expression which should be opposed tooth and nail by one and all. The notice has charged that the three news channels showed disrespect to the judiciary and the President by airing certain content on the day convict Yakub Memon was hanged. It is an effort to intimidate and terrorize the media, he added.

Addressing the media persons I A Khan Delhi Pradesh General Secretary said the BJP Government is behaving in the same manner like the Emergency imposed by late Mrs. Indira Gandhi in 1975. During the Emergency no one could speak against the government. Today BJP Government is doing the same thing of 1975. This is a dangerous trend about the high handedness of the government similar to what happened during the emergency period. This is just the beginning of curbing civil liberty. They are already telling you what to eat, this is the beginning as to what you should see and hear now.

Delhi Pradesh Secretary said one should not be surprised about the actions of this highly biased government, who do not believe in democratic process and want to establish a theocratic and tyrannical regime through control of democratic institutions and media and want to wreak havoc by misusing investigating agencies. However, in the long run truth will prevail and the face of hate mongers and conspirators will be blackened, he added.

Later the party activists submitted a memorandum with the PMO, marking a CC to the I & B Ministry and to the President of India urging them to withdraw the show-cause notices forthwith.

 conncet on facebook