Govt bans Red FM over ‘Gorkha’ remarks

The govt has banned Red FM for seven days, terming its RJ's remarks on the Gorkha community as 'derogatory'.

Terming the remarks of Red FM radio jockey against the Gorkha community as “derogatory”, the government has banned the radio channel for seven days.

“The remarks indeed hurt the sentiments of the Gorkha (Nepali) community and the steps taken by them did not help as the violence continued even after that. So we decided to impose a ban of seven days on the channel,” a senior Information and Broadcasting ministry official said, adding the order would be subject to the outcome of Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal’s hearing.

The ban would be subject to the outcome of the channel’s appeal against the show cause notice by the Ministry in the TDSAT, which will take up the matter on Thursday.

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The alleged derogatory remarks made by a radio jockey of the channel on the winner of Indian Idol, Prashant Tamang, had triggered clashes and violence in Siliguri last week.

Allowing the government to go ahead with its proceedings, the broadcast tribunal on Monday held that the order of the government would not be implemented till the next date of hearing.

“Following the show cause notice, the channel had given its reply and also explained that it has already apologized to the Gorkha community. But we found the remarks to be definitely derogatory and the remedial steps were not adequate,” the official said.

He said in the reply, the channel also did not suggest what further remedial measures it intended to take to quell the situation.

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During the hearing, the channel contended the time given to it was not sufficient as notice was issued late Saturday. The channel also said it has already apologized to the community and also issued a press release to this effect.

Defending its broadcast, the channel also questioned how a broadcast confined to Delhi city could be connected to the violence and clashes in cities as far as Darjeeling, Siliguri and Kalimpong.

Dismissing the contention of inadequate time for reply, the ministry took action under clause 25.3.1 of the Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) for private broadcasters and Programme Code of All India Radio (AIR).

According to the Code, a radio channel “should not broadcast anything defamatory, causing incitement to violence and anything against the law and order.”

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“The time given to the channel was within the provisions of the agreement. Since violation was serious, the ministry decided to suspend the permission and prohibit the broadcast,” the ministry official said.

The channel has, in hearings before the Ministry and the TDSAT, maintained government has acted without giving any opportunity to present its case. It also contended that in the licence agreement, there was no provision that permitted the government to take action against the channel without a sufficient notice.