Four channels told to drop ‘liquor ads’

The ministry has set up a panel under Additional Secretary Anil Baijal to look into the matter. The committee can take cognisance suo motu or look into specific complaints that could be construed as violation of the Advertisement Code.

One of the members at the committee, Abdul Rasheed Shahin — even raised the issue of Kashmir Times journalist Iftikar Gilani at the meeting today. Sushma assured members that within the limitations of her ministry she would see that he was being treated well and that no injustice was done to him.

In a separate move, eight MPs, Eduardo Faleiro, Girija Vyas, Janeshwar Mishra, Basudev Acharya, Hannan Hollah, Kartar Singh Duggal, Kuldip Nayar and Balwant Singh, have expressed concern at the increasing tendency of harassment of journalists — like Gilani’s arrest under the Official Secrets Act. ‘‘The Government must disclose the charges and evidence against Gilani or release him forthwith in the absence of proof of any wrongdoing,’’ the MPs said.