New Delhi: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has warned strict action against broadcasting channels in the wake of uncorrelated and misleading reports being aired on the Russia-Ukraine war and the recent communal tensions in North-west Delhi by some channels.
The notice warned that the Central government will prohibit or regulate the transmission of a channel or programme if misleading and prevocational reports were found to be aired under the provisions laid down in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
The Ministry notice reads that reports being aired by certain channels are found to be "unauthentic, misleading, sensational and using socially unacceptable language and remarks, offending good taste, and decency".
The Ministry underlined the Russia-Ukraine conflict reporting which it said are false claims giving scandalous headlines/taglines that are often unrelated to the news item. Referring to the communal clashes that broke out in Delhi's Jahangirpuri on Hanuman Jayanti, the Ministry said that some channels are "aggravating communal tensions".
The advisory alleged that the coverage by TV channels included "provocative headlines and videos of violence that may incite communal hatred among the communities and disrupt peace and law and order."