Cable operators forced to block news channel critical of Mamata

Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service
Kolkata, May 21

Opposition parties cutting across their political differences have condemned the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government for its alleged action against a TV news channel.

The Mamata administration has allegedly put pressure on cable operators to stop airing the Calcutta News (CN) channel because CN had criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

CLP leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, while criticising the state government for coming down heavily on CN, said Mamata Banerjee could not accept criticism. “Criticism is unbearable to her and so cable operators have been asked to stop beaming the CN channel”, Chowdhury said.

“Last evening, under sustained administrative pressure, cable networks in & around Kolkata pulled the plug on @calcutta_news, a tv network that was mildly critical of @MamataOfficial govt. I understand there is pressure to do the same to Sadhna News”, Pro-BJP Rajya Sabha member Swapan Dasgupta tweeted.

“This sustained attack on news & opinions that are not to TMC’s liking is a feature of this state government that sustains itself on crude propaganda & sycophancy. I will do my utmost to help publications & TV networks maintain their independence in West Bengal”, Dasgupta added in another tweet which was also marked to I&B minister Prakash Javdekar.

The state unit of BJP questioned the “dead silence” of Editors Guild of India and said “Most media is afraid to put stories critical of CM. Calcutta News which upheld the voices of dissent is being bullied by the CM and taken off the air!”

Fuad Halim of the CPI(M) also criticised Mamata Banerjee for forcing the cable operators to withdraw the channel from air.

In the past, Mamata Banerjee had initiated action against people who dared to criticise her on social media. In last October also police arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly posting “derogatory remarks” against Banerjee on his Facebook page.

While the CN channel has been blocked by cable operators, it is still available on DTH networks. The channel beamed a story today on how Mamata has been snapping at CN reporters during news conferences. The channel refused to bow under pressure and promised to remain loyal only to truth.