Cauvery water row: Exercise restraint, I&B ministry tells broadcasters

Chennai: Warning that telecast of “provocative and inflammatory” programmees could further ignite “tensions and reactions” resulting in deterioration of law and order, the Union government on Tuesday asked media houses in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to exercise restraint by broadcasting any news only after verifying facts.

As television channels showed disturbing images of violence, the information and broadcasting ministry sent out advisories to media houses asking them to avoid live telecast of violence or rioting and exercise “care in the choice of words” while reporting incident related to Cauvery water dispute.

“Some TV channels have also been airing footage of violent incidents, rioting, etc repeatedly. These could further ignite tensions and reactions and could cause the law and order situation in both the states to deteriorate.

“Whereas it is felt that news, views or comments relating to Cauvery water dispute should be telecast only after proper verification of facts and presented with due caution and restraint in a manner which is in the public interest for maintaining harmony,” the advisory issued by Neeti Sarkar, Director (BC), ministry of information and broadcasting, said.

The advisory also quoted I&B minister M, Venkaiah Naidu who has appealed to people of both the states to maintain peace and not indulge in rioting and violence.

Asking the media including cable networks to exercise restraint in covering incidents of violence and rioting and not to carry news in such a way that it incites violence, the advisory asked media house to use shots of Cauvery river and security forces.

TV channels are bound to follow the provisions of the Programme Code and Advertising Code under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995, the I&B Ministry said and advised them to exercise restraint and sensitivity while reporting such events.