The telecast of MediaOne TV, a Kerala-based Malayalam news channel, has been suspended by the Union ministry of information and broadcasting, the channel announced on Monday. According to reports, the channel has been off the air since around 12.30pm on Monday.
MediaOne tweeted its telecast has been disallowed by the Centre citing “security reasons”.
MediaOne claimed the government had not been forthcoming with details of the reasons for the ban. MediaOne announce it was taking “urgent legal steps” for restoring the channel and was confident justice would prevail.
The Quint reported that action from the ministry of information and broadcasting came after the ministry of home affairs denied security clearance for the channel. A circular of the ministry of information and broadcasting said MediaOne had been issued a show-cause notice and had replied to it.
The MIB said its reply had been examined.
Lok Sabha MP from Kerala E.T. Muhammed Basheer criticised the ban on MediaOne. He tweeted, “Centre's ban on MediaOne TV is highly reprehensible. This is the second time that the Central Government has imposed a ban on MediaOne TV. Yet another attempt to silence the political dissent through outright fascism. All people of India should unite against this tyranny.”
Media reports said MediaOne is expected to challenge the Centre's action by approaching the Kerala High Court.
In March 2020, the Centre had briefly banned MediaOne and Asianet News, another Malayalam TV channel, for their coverage of the Delhi riots. At the time, MediaOne was accused of being critical towards Delhi Police and the RSS.
