Why Modi govt warned news channels over Delhi Jahangirpuri violence, Ukraine-Russia war coverage

The television coverage of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, and the recent violence in Delhi's Jahangirpuri has caught the attention of the Indian government, and it isn't pleased. The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry issued an advisory to self-regulating bodies of television channels on April 23.

The government took exception to headlines like "Parmanu Putin se pareshan Zelenski", which means Zelenskyy is worried over Nuclear Putin. Another headline was "Parmanu action ki chinta se Zelenski ko depression", which means Zelenskyy is in depressing due to anxiety over a nuclear attack. Regarding the Delhi violence, headlines like "Ali, Bali, aur Khalbali (unrest)" were objected to.

The government also warned against "false claims" and frequent misquotation of international agencies regarding the Ukraine conflict. On Delhi, the government objected to communal colour being given to action of authorities, a news channel repeatedly showing a clip of a man from a particular community, and assertions by another channel that the violence was pre-planned.

The government said that debates should not have unparliamentary, provocative, and socially unacceptable language.