No action should be taken against private broadcaster TV Today Network over airing a sting on the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, says the resolution passed by UP assembly.
In 2016, an inquiry committee set up by the state Assembly had submitted a report holding staff members of TV Today Network guilty of breach of privilege of then parliamentary affairs minister Azam Khan.
On Thursday, a resolution about not taking any action against the network was moved by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna and was passed even as the Opposition remained absent.
The Speaker said the government will have to inform the SC about the decision of the Assembly.
Khanna told the House that BJP, which was in Opposition then, had raised question on the very formation of the committee as well as its report and had even staged a boycott on the issue in the Assembly then.
“First of all, prima facie, it does not appear to be a case of breach of privilege. I had raised the question on the formation of the committee then also. We had also staged a walkout in disagreement. Media is the fourth pillar of the democracy. I place the resolution that there should be no further action in this case,” he added.
Following this, the Speaker tabled the resolution, that, “In the case of the committee formed to find the truth in the Muzaffarnagar sting operation done by Aaj Tak and Headlines Today, there should not be any further action” he read out the resolution. With Opposition members not present, the resolution was passed unanimously”.
