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Delhi riots: India bans two Malayalam news channels for 48 hours

Dubai - The ban is effective from 7.30 pm on Friday.

Two of the most prominent Kerala-based television news channels have been taken off air for 48 hours for their coverage of Delhi riots.
The decision by India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is based on the allegation that their coverage violated prescribed code. The ban is effective from 7.30pm on Friday.
"While reporting such a critical incident, the channel (Asianet News TV) should have taken utmost care and should have reported it in a balanced way. Such reporting could enhance the communal disharmony across the country when the situation is highly volatile. The Ministry has time and again issued advisories to all news channels to comply with the provisions of the rules," read the notice issued to Asianet by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
"It is abundantly clear that the channel has not adhered to the programme codes and has shown irresponsibility by not fully complying with them. The Ministry has come to the conclusion that Asianet News TV channel had violated Rule 6 (1) (c)& (e) of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the rules framed thereunder by telecasting said news regarding the North East Delhi violence."
A similar notice has also been issued to Media One, another prominent news channel.