Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Prakash Javedkar on Thursday strongly condemned the ongoing ban on 2 Telugu news channels (TV9 and ABN Andhra Jyothi) in Telangana.
Addressing a press conference at the State BJP office, Javedkar said that the Centre had already taken a serious note of this issue, and that it would take appropriate action in this regard in the next 2 days.
He refused to disclose further details citing the Model Code of Conduct in view of the Medak by-polls.
However, he said that the Centre had gathered all the required details to take its own action on the issue.
Javedkar assured that the BJP-led NDA Government would ensure complete freedom of the press.
Describing the media as an integral part of the democratic set-up in India, he said that the freedom of the press should never be suppressed by governments.
He reminded that there was no freedom of press during the British regime, and that Balgangadhar Tilak was imprisoned for expressing free opinion.
The media was also subjected to censorship and ban during the Emergency period in 1976, he recalled.
He said that the Centre would ensure that such incidents do not recur. (INN)