News Broadcasters Association seems very upset with what has been boiling down in Mumbai as the conflict between Republic TV and Mumbai Police. NBA stated that this clash is posing a threat to the credibility and honour of two great institutions, the media and the police.

In a statement, the association stated that they are disturbed at the conflict and that they do not support the kind of journalism being practiced by Republic TV. They further appealed to the Mumbai police to ensure that no journalists are made victims of the crossfire between Republic TV and the Mumbai Police. The NBA specifically asked the journalists working with Republic TV to not cross the Lakshman Rekha as observed by the Bombay High Court.

The association reiterated that it does not support toxic content and unethical journalism. NBA also expressed concern at the open-ended FIR registered by the UP police in Hazratganj police station in Lucknow, against media for alleged TRP manipulation. This FIR was instrumental in involvement of CBI in the TRP case. The speed with which the case was transferred to CBI overnight raises serious doubts about the intentions. A complaint in the FIR filed against unknown persons by an individual who has no locus standi may lead to a witch-hunt against the media, its advertisers and advertising agencies. The NBA has urged the government to immediately withdraw the case referred to CBI.

In Indian media, News Broadcasting Standards Association, an independent regulatory body headed by (Retd.) Justice A.K. Sikri, governs the News broadcasters.

The regulatory body, NBSA, has recently directed Times Now TV to air an apology to activist Sanjukta Basu for making objectionable comments about her during a debate in 2018. In its order, the NBSA asked the channel to air the apology on October 27 at 9 pm. NBSA said that Times Now ran a defamatory programme about the author and social activist on April 6, 2018, in which the channel referred to her as “Hindu hater”, & “vile troll”. The Order also mentioned that the Channel had claimed that she was a part of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “troll army”. It added that the channel did not contact to get Basu’s version and also did not verify the facts before broadcasting thereby violating the association’s guidelines.

NBSA has opined in the order that there was an absence of neutrality in the programme. The authority has further asked the channel to remove any video of the broadcast from its website, YouTube, or any other links and submit it in writing to NBSA.