
TV news channels must “refrain” from giving platform to persons facing “charges of serious crimes, including terrorism” and those belonging to banned organisations, the ministry of information and broadcasting stated in an advisory for private satellite TV channels.
The advisory came a day after Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, declared an “individual terrorist” by the Indian government in 2020, made an appearance on an ABP News show hosted by Jagwinder Patiyal. A known advocate of Khalistan, Pannu was described as the “most wanted terrorist” on the show. He has at least 22 cases registered against him, including that of terrorism, and heads the banned organisation, Sikhs for Justice.