The television channels that were ordered to go off-air, following their airing a sting operation by Tehelka, involving the Chief Minister Narendra Modi, have commenced operations.

The channels had been blocked following a footage that was aired showing how the 2002 Gujarat riots had the involvement of Narendra Modi’s government. The Press Trust of India later reported that the three networks had resumed operations by late Saturday.

The cable operators were directed by Dhananjay Dwivedi, Ahmedabad District Magistrate, not to display CNN-IBN, IBN-7 and Aaj Tak that were airing the show.

The order that the magistrate issued read, ‘From 19:30 hours (IST), onwards, dated 25.10.07, there are programmes like Tehelka-Aaj Tak Khulasa, Operation Kalank and Gujarat ka Sach being telecast on Aaj Tak and IBN7 depicting visuals and statements of people pertaining to the 2002 communal riots. As per Clause 5 of the Cable TV Network Regulation, 1995, no entity can broadcast or re-broadcast any programme, which is not as per programming code.’

All the channels post 1930 hours (IST) on Thursday had gone off air. The violation the administration claimed that the broadcasting programmes were causing was stated as, ‘Can evoke communal feeling, violence and disturb the law and order situation.’

Clarifying his orders, Dwivedi said, ‘It was clearly stated to the cable operators that only the particular news programme on the sting operation on the riot incidents and other such programmes should not be shown. There was no ban on the networks showing other programmes. As long as they are not telecasting the communally sensitive programme, and others of the same category, they are welcome to resume transmission at any given time.’

It was the channels that gained out of the show, as they saw a 360 percent increase in the average time spent by the viewers from 8 minutes to around 40 minutes.

‘In towns with population below 10 lakh, the viewership share of the channel went up from 12 per cent to 21 per cent. Share in towns with population of more then 10 lakh went up by from 11 to 14%,’ Director, aMap, Ravi Dixit commented.