India makes u-turn on TV ban over Delhi violence coverage
The Indian government backtracked yesterday after slapping a 48-hour ban on two TV channels for what officials called biased coverage of New Delhi violences. A blackout of Asianet News and MediaOne was ordered on Friday but lifted after an outcry from opposition groups and protests by the channels to the information and broadcasting ministry. Information minister Prakash Javadekar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested the ban be revoked on learning of it. "Our basic belief is that press freedom is essential in a democratic set-up," Javadekar told reporters when asked about the move. A government order had accused the channels of covering last month's deadly violence in the capital "in a manner that highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community".
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