Boycott of 14 TV anchors by INDI Alliance: NBDA says move threatens press freedom

In an shocking & unprecedented move, the Opposition's INDI Alliance, released a list of 14 TV news anchors, saying it will now boycott them on Thursday. It has accusing them of conducting “hate-filled” news debates.

INDI Alliance move has been criticised widely as a anti-democratic and a threat to Press freedom.

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.

In a press 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.

“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.”

"These days, the I. N. D. I Alliance is ONLY doing 2 things:
BASHING SANATANA SANSKRITI - each party is competing to outdo the other in hurling the choicest abuses towards Sanatana Sanskriti.
BULLYING THE MEDIA- filing FIRs, threatening individual journalists, making “lists” in true Nazi style of who to target.
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.