I&B minister justifies advisory to TV channels

Justifying the advisory to TV channels not to compare the Prime Minister's address on occasions like I-Day with speeches of other leaders, Union Minister Manish Tewari said the sanctity associated with certain occasions has to be maintained.

Tewari who is Information and Broadcasting Minister reiterated UPA government's commitment to freedom of speech and expression and sought to contrast with that of NDA recalling what had happened to journalists of Tehelka.Com when they had done a sting operation about defence deals when George Fernandes was Defence Minister. In an advisory issued on October 21, the I&B ministry had asked TV channels not to compare the Prime Minister's address to the nation on occasions like I-Day with speeches of other leaders, in an apparent reference to the way in which Narendra Modi's speech on August 15 was covered by a section of the media.

In his I-Day address in Bhuj, Modi had attacked Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on national security and challenged him to a public debate on governance, saying the nation is "restless for change".

Source: http://cablequest.org/news/national-news/item/3496-i-b-minister-justifies-advisory-to-tv-channels.htmlSource: http://cablequest.org/news/national-news/item/3496-i-b-minister-justifies-advisory-to-tv-channels.html