INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
journalists from a Hindi news channel was raised today in parliament, where opposition leaders alleged that the channel, ABP News, has been
targeted over a report critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.In the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge accused
the government of trying to curb freedom of the press."There have been several instances of the government trying to stifle the media in the
Especially when they try to do a 'Reality Check' of government's views
That's when they are intimidated, threatened if there is no freedom of speech, how can we speak" he said.Union Information and Broadcasting
minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore strongly refuted the charge
He said ABP had run an incorrect news report but the government had taken no action against them.He suggested that the sackings in ABP may
be linked to their falling viewership."The channel he is talking about ran a wrong story
Despite that, the government did not issue a show-cause notice
If the government wanted to interfere, it would have because the Free Dish (state-run satellite TV service) is the government's," he
said."The government has nothing to do with this
This channel - their TRP (television rating points) is falling rapidly because people don't want to see them anymore
And they are blaming the government" he added.Last month, Mr Rathore was among ministers who had countered a report on the ABP show
"Masterstroke" that suggested a woman from Chhattisgarh had been coached to back, in a televised interaction with PM Modi, government claims
that it was doubling farmer income - a key promise in last year's budget.The show's anchor Punya Prasun Bajpai and the channel's managing
editor Milind Khandekar announced their resignation from ABP News this week.Many users on Twitter claimed that since the report was aired,
there were blackouts during the show.Satellite TV providers Tata Sky and Airtel acknowledged the issue but said the signal interruption was
on the broadcaster's end.Speaking in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien too raised the subject
On Twitter, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attacked the government."Free media is life line of democracy
But Modi govt is hell bent to kill independent media
The resignation of two eminent TV journalists from ABP News in two days is another proof
Media should rise now, other wise it will be too late #FreeMediaDiedInIndia (sic)," he said.
