The Malayalam TV channel, MediaOne, belonging to the Madhyamam media group, had been running ever since its first telecast from 9 pm on 10 February 2013 without an interruption, until 7.30 pm on 6 March 2020. The channel, which was converted into an all-news outlet for the last two years, has been trying to cover national, international and local news together with news-based programmes with utmost fidelity to truth and neutrality, as will easily be testified by its viewers drawn from different political and religious denominations. Hence it has been able to swim against the tide and survive the stiff competition that the news channel landscape is known for.
In the current era when corporate bigwigs and money bags try to grab and dominate the entire media ecosystem and to anchor public opinion to the pivot they desire, MediaOne - backed up by public participation and confidence alone - has its single commitment, if there is one, to the millions who are heir to trials, torture, tribulations and exploitation. When disasters like flood and riots, racist attacks, human rights violations and anti-people policies crush the people, the channel's priority has always been to dig out facts and bring them to the notice of authorities towards meaningful resolutions. However, MediaOne always ensures that all this is done in conformity with norms of truth, justice, the constitution and rule of law and also steering clear of prejudices of religion, caste, community, party or other affiliations.
Given such facts, the act of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of banning the telecast of MediaOne for 48 hours from 7.30 pm on Friday, and the actions thereafter were surprising and unimaginable. It was when the channel management and employees were wondering on what grounds this action was taken that a message came from those in charge explaining the reason for the ban order which was: the news telecasts of the bloodbath and destruction during the violence in northeastern Delhi from 25 February, which was quite reminiscent of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the capital and the racist attacks that shook Gujarat in February 2002. Since they were adjudged to blame the police inaction resulting in siding with the assailants and critical of RSS, in a manner of causing communal disaffection. And that, according to the order, was what led to the two-day ban under Rule 6(1)C, and Rule 6(1) E of the Cable Television Networks Rules of 1994.
Although the Management of MediaOne had responded to the notice received earlier, in time and in clear terms, the ban came after the response was termed as unsatisfactory. The channel, which well honours rule of law, was naturally preparing to move the judiciary against the ban, when on the morning of Saturday at 9.30, a directive arrived for resumption of the telecast. What is notable is that by that time, protests against the ban had kept flowing flowing from thousands of viewers both from within the country and abroad. Prominent political figures, social activists, media collectives and religious and cultural leaders joined the denunciation of the government's action. IT is not clear whether the lifting of the ban after 14 hours in the case of MediaOne was on sensing the scale of popular protest, on recognising the complications of legal process or on being convinced of the mistake.
Freedom of expression is of the essence in Indian democracy and its constitution. When the right to be informed and to inform is threatened or denied, the fourth estate will become an absurdity. Even as of now, India stands a low 140th in the index of freedom as ranked by international media monitoring ageny, Reporters Without Borders. The agency attributes the lack of freedom of Indian media to the fear of governmental retaliation among the print, visual and audio media. In the case of Delhi racist attacks even when global media uncover unpleasant facts, the rulers fail to recognize the uselessness of India's media made to bury its head like an ostrich. And the hyper nationalist class is in no consternation when the image of the mother land takes a beating even at the time the country's thrust is to be amodel of development. However, there is a sizeable population across different religions who yearn to see the constitutional principles flourish and to protect civil and democratic rights at any cost. It is their spirited protest and opposition that make governments rethink albeit rarely. All the more reason why this struggle for fundamental rights has but to continue with renewed vigour.
O Abdurahman
Group Editor, Madhyamam- MediaOne