Opposition names, blacklists 14 TV anchors; gag on Press as in Emergency, say media panel, BJP

The INDIA alliance, which is in power in 11 states, said it will not send its representatives on shows featuring Aman Chopra, Amish Devgan and Anand Narasimhan of News 18; Chitra Tripathi and Sudhir Chaudhary of Aaj Tak; Gaurav Sawant and Shiv Aroor of India Today; Prachi Parashar of India TV; Arnab Goswami of Republic Bharat; Rubika Liyaquat of Bharat 24; Navika Kumar and Sushant Sinha of Times Now Navbharat; Aditi Tyagi of Bharat Express; and Ashok Shrivastav of DD News.

Defending the decision, Congress media department chairman Pawan Khera said, “Every day at 5 pm, a market of hatred is put up on some channels. It has been happening for the last nine years. The spokespersons of different parties go to those markets, some experts go, some analysts go… but we all go as customers of that market of hatred.”

“The ban on representatives of the opposition alliance from participating in TV news shows anchored by some of India’s top TV news personalities goes against the ethos of democracy. It betokens intolerance and imperils press freedom.”, News Broadcasters & Digital Association… pic.twitter.com/XPxNKU6Xtb

— DD News (@DDNewslive) September 14, 2023

“We have taken the decision with a heavy heart. We are not opposed to any of these anchors. We do not hate any of these anchors. But we love our country more… that is why we wanted to take all steps possible from our side to shut these shops of hatred… that is why the constituents of the INDIA alliance decided that we will not go to these markets of hatred as customers,” he said.

“We do not want to legitimise this hate-filled narrative which is corroding our society… if you spread hatred in the society which takes even the shape of violence… we will not be a part of it,” Khera said.

The decision drew sharp criticism from the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) and the BJP too attacked the Opposition alliance, reminding the Congress of the Emergency era.

“This is like gagging the media. In fact, the alliance propagating democratic values and freedom of speech seems to be curtailing it with this move. But we shall continue to invite everyone to all shows,” Avinash Pandey, CEO, ABP Network, and President of the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) told The Indian Express. In a statement, the NBDA said it was “deeply anguished and concerned” by the decision and argued that the move “sets a dangerous precedent”.

“The ban on representatives of the Opposition alliance from participating in TV news shows anchored by some of India’s top TV news personalities goes against the ethos of democracy. It betokens intolerance and imperils press freedom. The Opposition alliance claims to be the champion of pluralism and a free press, but its decision betrays callous disregard for democracy’s most fundamental tenet – the inalienable right to openly express ideas and opinions,” the NBDA said.

I. N. D. I Alliance should stop their antics immediately. They should instead focus on constructive work and serving people. Else, the path to obscurity will get even clearer.

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 14, 2023

“The boycott of certain journalists/anchors takes the nation back to the Emergency era when the press was gagged, and independent opinions and voices were crushed. NBDA urges the Opposition alliance to withdraw its decision of boycotting certain journalists and anchors as such a decision would amount to browbeating journalists and stifling freedom of speech and expression of the media,” it said.

BJP president J P Nadda accused the INDIA alliance of “making lists in true Nazi style of who to target” and argued “the Emergency era mindset is alive among these parties.”

“Pandit Nehru curtailed free speech and arrested those who criticised him. Indira Ji remains the Gold Medal winner of how to do it – called for committed judiciary, committed bureaucracy and imposed the horrific Emergency. Rajiv Ji tried to bring the media under state control but failed miserably. Sonia Ji-led UPA was banning social media handles simply because the Congress did not like their views,” he said in a social media post.

In a statement, BJP national media head Anil Baluni said the alliance, by taking such a “highly deplorable” decision, had once again revealed its “highly repressive, dictatorial and negative mindset.” He said the BJP opposed such “derogatory mentality which hinders freedom of expression”.

#WATCH | Indore, MP: On INDIA bloc blacklisting several TV news anchors, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia says, “Those who have black hearts only they do such deeds of blacklisting. You should see the role of the INDIA alliance all over the country from North to South…The… pic.twitter.com/AJvTzqNatU

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) September 15, 2023

“We have all seen that in a similar manner how the media was stifled and gagged during Emergency,” Baluni said, adding that the move indicated that the alliance was “working under some external pressure to hurt Indian media’s freedom of expression”. He said there is democracy in the country and no one will be allowed to suppress or curtail the freedom and rights of the media.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur called the decision of the Opposition alliance “Emergency 2.0”.

“It shows that they don’t have trust in democracy… Look at Bengal, Tamil Nadu… other Opposition-ruled states… Cases are lodged against journalists… And now they are talking about boycotting them… It is shameful… They used to talk about freedom of expression and autonomy of the media… and today they have become the biggest example… that if anyone has tried to crush the media or pressurise them, it is the ghamandia alliance,” he said.

Union Minister Hardeep Puri compared the move to the Emergency days when media rights were curbed. “The only instance we have seen of civil liberties being curtailed in India was during the Emergency in 1975,” he said in a post on X.

“Open calls for eradication of Sanatan Dharma, FIRs against journalists and boycott of media reflect politics of those dark years of Emergency. True face of I.N.D.I.Alliance,” he said.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X, said, “With the news anchor boycott, the rehearsal to reinstate censorship has officially begun… unfortunately for them, the people of Bharat will elect Sri Narendra Modi in 2024 again as the Prime Minister, who will ensure that the dark days of Emergency do not return to our country again.”

Reached for comments, Ashok Shrivastav, Editor and Anchor at Doordarshan, said, “48 years ago, my father had raised his voice against Indira ji’s Emergency and then the Congress government issued a MISA warrant against my father. But my father did not get scared, nor did he apologise to Indira ji. Today, the Opposition wants to impose Emergency 2.0 on the country… even today we have to fight, not be scared.”