Not trying to curb free speech, Manish Tewari says

NEW DELHI: Information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari on Thursday defended his ministry's decision to issue an advisory asking news channels not to compare the PM's Independence Day speech with that of other political leaders.

Responding to criticism from broadcasters who described the advisory as an assault to freedom of speech, the minister said, "We thought it was appropriate to bring it to the attention of the industry that certain occasions should be treated differently. But we leave it to them to take the advice for what its worth."

I&B ministry had recently pulled up TV channels for "artificially comparing" the PM's speech on August 15 with that of Narendra Modi's which was delivered around the same time as the PM's speech.

The advisory said that it was a "highly objectionable" move to denigrate the image of the PM who was the leader of the country. The note warned that action would be taken against the program code of the Cable Network Act if TV channels failed to pay heed.

Denying that the government was trying to curb freedom of speech Tewari said, "When the PM addresses the nation on August 15 or January 26 he embodies the voice of the nation. He does not speak as the leader of a political party. There is a certain sanctity and solemnity attached to the occasion." The minister added that the advisory was just "advice" and should only be taken as such.