ET Muhammed Basheer, leader of the Indian Union Muslim League has lashed out at the Lok Sabha over the ban on MediaOne during a debate on Motion of Thanks to the President's Address.
Basheer blamed for completely banning Media One channel from broadcasting in Kerala.This is without a justification. Media One was ordered to suspend broadcasting without even a prior notice.
It should be made clear what the government's position is on the media. The central government is using an iron fist on the media, Basheer added.
According to Basheer "The government wants to silence the media. It is intolerant of criticism. That is not a grace for democracy. The media is the Fourth Estate and it is one of the pillars of democracy. If it is hurt, democracy is hurt."
Bashir also demanded that democracy should not be tarnished in this way.
Meanwhile the Rajya Sabha has adjourned an urgent question filed by Muslim League MP PV Abdul Wahab seeking clarification on the reason for the Media One ban. During a written reply to Wahab, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat stated that the question is not of an urgent nature as per Rule 58 (1) of the Rajya Sabha and can be allowed as a usual question during the second phase of the budget session starting on March 10.