Idol row: I&B Ministry showcause notice to Red FM

The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry issued a showcause notice to Red FM radio station on Saturday over the “derogatory”...

The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry issued a showcause notice to Red FM radio station on Saturday over the “derogatory” remarks aired against the Gorkha community soon after Prashant Tamang was crowned Indian Idol on Sony TV.

The notice was issued after the West Bengal Government brought this issue to the attention of the ministry. Leaders of Gorkha community in Delhi also asked Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi to take action against the radio station.

The West Bengal Government had informed the ministry that the permission holder of FM radio broadcasting station in Delhi, namely M/s Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Limited, in their FM channel named Red FM being aired on 93.5 MHz, had aired a programme on September 24 in which RJ Nitin (also known as Ulta Pulta Nitin) made a racist remark against the Gorkha community.

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The remark has sparked rioting at several places in West Bengal. Strikes have been called in several places, including Darjeeling, Kalim-pong and Sukna. In Siliguri, it led to violent clashes between two communities. Police had to open fire and curfew was imposed in the city.

The curfew was withdrawn from parts of the town on Saturday after the situation returned to normal. The Army, however, is continuing to flag march in most areas.

As per para 11.2 of the Grant of Permission Agreement, M/s Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Limited were supposed to follow the programme code of All India Radio which prohibits any programme attacking communities, anything defamatory or inciting violence. From the sequence of events it is prima facie evident that the remarks are in violation of the programme code of AIR and hence the permission holder has been given time till 4 pm on October 1, 2007 to explain why action should not be taken against them, said a ministry statement.