The Centre has issued a strong advisory to all private television channels, urging them to exercise extreme caution while reporting on the recent blast near Delhi’s Red Fort. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) said that some broadcasters had aired content that could potentially aid or promote unlawful activities, prompting the need for strict guidelines.
According to the advisory, the Ministry observed that certain channels telecast visuals and discussions related to the making of explosive devices soon after the blast, which claimed multiple lives and triggered a citywide security alert. The content, the Ministry warned, could unintentionally encourage violence or provide sensitive information that threatens national security.
The advisory emphasized that channels must avoid broadcasting materials that justify violent acts or appear sympathetic toward individuals allegedly involved in the blast. It added that any video or explanation showing how harmful devices can be created poses a direct risk to public safety.
Citing the Cable Television Network Rules, the government reiterated that programmes must not contain content that is obscene, defamatory, deliberately misleading, or suggestive of half-truths. They must also refrain from airing visuals that could incite violence, disturb public order, or promote anti-national attitudes. The Ministry stressed that all broadcasters shoulder a responsibility to ensure their reporting does not compromise the nation’s security or integrity.
Television channels have been instructed to follow the advisory strictly and apply the highest level of editorial discretion when dealing with sensitive security-related events. The government said the precautions are intended not to restrict press freedom, but to prevent any inadvertent dissemination of harmful information in the wake of the Red Fort incident.
