New Delhi, October 8
Taking a serious note of news channels airing interviews of a key witness in the September 13 bomb blast in New Delhi, the government today asked the broadcasters not to telecast any news item which may endanger the life of a person.
In an advisory issued to the to Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) and News Broadcasters Association (NBA), the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) asked the industry to direct their member channels not to telecast any news item which may endanger the life of a person.
“The advisory has been issued on a request from National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which had written to the ministry about its serious objection on the repeated telecast of a live interview of balloon seller Rahul, a key witness to September 13 blast at Connaught Place in New Delhi,” an official statement said.
The NCPCR found “the act of media as insensitive and negligent” which endangered the life of Rahul, a 12-year-old boy, with no one to protect or advise him of the serious consequences, the statement said.
“It (NCPCR) has also observed that media exhibited reckless behaviour and instead of having concern for the safety, they allowed the identity of the child to be exhibited to the nation in their attempt to encash on the sad tragedy,” it added.
I&B Ministry's advisory has also directed the IBF and NBA to ensure that their member channels exercise restraint in selection of their content for broadcast.
— PTI
