Kerala scribes union to protest against NDTV ban

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 6 (IANS) The Kerala Union of Working Journalist (KUWJ) will observe November 9 as a protest day against the government orders to ban NDTV India channel for a day for "violating norms" in its coverage of the terror attack on the Pathankot Air Base in January.

The channel will go off air from November 8 midnight to November 9 midnight.

In a statement issued here on Sunday by KUWJ General Secretary C. Narayanan said: "This is a dangerous trend by the Centre that has asked the NDTV India channel to go off the air".

"This is against the principles of democracy and the freedom of press. To protest this on November 9th, there will be a state wide protest by the KUWJ and a letter will also be written to the Centre," said Narayanan.

Meanwhile, political parties including Congress, Communist Party of India-Marxist and several other national parties and leaders have strongly criticised the ban.