'May disturb peace': West Bengal issues advisory to cable operators over 'sensationalised, communal' news

"Misleading", "sensationalised", "having communal tone", and "likely to cause breach of peace in the state" – this is how the West Bengal government has characterised recent coverage by news channels of "news and incidents" in the state.

In an advisory issued on June 13, the TMC government said such coverage "appear to be violative" of the Programme Code under section 5 of the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act. Given its "serious concerns", the government directed cable operators and MSOs to "immediately refrain from transmitting such content".

"In the news, some of channels broadcast debates having unparliamentary, provocative and socially unacceptable language, communal remarks and derogatory references which may have a negative psychological impact on viewers and may also incite communal disharmony and disturb the peace at large," the advisory said.

The state BJP has already slammed the advisory, with leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari tweeting that the state was experiencing an "undeclared emergency" with press freedom "under threat".

Over 200 people have been arrested and 42 cases registered in West Bengal after protests broke out following comments made by two BJP leaders against the Prophet. Two senior police officers were transferred in Howrah, where violence broke out from Thursday, while state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar was arrested under "preventive sections" on Saturday when he was on his way to Howrah.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted that the state was suffering as a result of the BJP's "sin" and said "strict action" would be taken.

The row began on May 26 when Nupur Sharma, who was the BJP's national spokesperson at the time, went on a debate on Times Now during which she made comments about the Prophet and Islam. Watch our latest episode of TV Newsance to see how events played out.