• By Abhishek Sheoran
  • Fri, 22 Sep 2023 07:05 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Thursday issued an advisory asking television channels to refrain from giving platforms to people charged with serious crimes, including terrorism. This came amid mounting diplomatic tensions between India and Canada after the latter alleged Indian government was involved in the killing of its citizen (referring to the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey). A copy of the notice has been shared by ANI.

“It has come to the notice of this Ministry that a person in a foreign country against whom there are serious cases of crime including terrorism, belonging to an organization which has been proscribed by law in India was invited for a discussion on a television channel wherein the said person made several comments/remarks which were detrimental to the sovereignty/integrity of the country, security of India, friendly relations of India with a foreign state and also had the potential of disturbing public order in the country,” the I&B ministry advisory reads.

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"While the Government upholds media freedom and respects its rights under the Constitution, the content telecast by TV channels must adhere to the provisions of the CTN Act, 1995, including sub-section (2) of Section 20," it said.

"In the light of the above, television channels are advised to refrain from giving any platform to reports/references about and views/agenda of persons of such background including those against whom there are charges of serious crimes/terrorism and belonging to organizations which have been proscribed by law, having regard to the reasonable restrictions laid down under Article 19(2) of the Constitution and mentioned under sub-section (2) of Section 20 of the CTN Act," the advisory said.

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Interviews of a few pro-Khalistani terrorists, including that of SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, have been making the rounds across social media platforms of late. These interviews are often provocative and agenda-driven. Pannu has recently issued threats to Canadian Hindus and asked them to leave Canada, saying they are working against the interest of the North American country.

SFJ Chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issuing threats to PM Modi, Amit Shah at an event in Canada. Video grab/X/@MajorPoonia

Pandemonium erupted when Canadian PM Justin Trudeau while addressing the parliament, said their agencies were actively perusing ‘credible allegations’ of potential links between agents of the government of India in the killing of a Canadian citizen.

After laying out allegations, Canada suspended a senior diplomat of India. As a reaction to this, India also expelled a Canadian diplomatic officer, besides rejecting Trudeau’s allegations as ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated’. Both countries even cautioned their citizens living/travelling in the two countries.

Notably, Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed on June 18 this year after being shot by unidentified assailants in Surrey, Canada. He was also the head of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib. Nijjar was India’s one of the most-wanted terrorists and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) declared a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on him.