By IANS
Ahmedabad : Most people here could not view the sensational Tehelka exposé on the 2002 Gujarat violence that contained revelations of Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s alleged role in it after the district administration ordered several news channels off the air.
Three television news channels were banned from telecast by cable operators by Ahmedabad collector Dhananjay Trivedi, who is also the district election officer, on the ground that it could incite violence in the communally-sensitive district.
Trivedi banned broadcast of Aaj Tak, CNN-IBN and IBN-7. Later, the ban was also imposed on NDTV in the district as a precautionary measure.
He sent a letter to cable operators of the city to stop telecast of the channels.
Reacting to the move, the Election Commission has asked for an explanation from the collector for banning the channels.
The sting showed several Sangh Parivar members claiming that the Modi government had ordered the mass killings and had even protected those who were responsible for riots.
Vikram Shah, a professor, saw the programme because of direct-to-home service and said it was nothing new. At least people in the state were aware of the ghastly incidents that occurred following the Godhra incident. If anything this will only work to the advantage of the BJP as it would lead to consolidation of Hindu votes, he said.