Ahmedabad, October 27
Cable distribution of three major TV networks resumed tonight after they were blacked out for the third day in this district as a fallout of the Tehelka sting on post-Godhra riots which claimed its first victim with a government lawyer 
resigning.

With the controversial action triggering an outcry in the media and described as a blatant assault on the freedom of the Press, the state 
government appeared to wash 
its hands off this controversial action. Channels of three leading networks — Aaj Tak, CNN-IBN and NDTV — had faced the ire of the administration.

Government pleader Arvind Pandya, who figured in the programme, put in his papers and filed a police complaint against Aak Tak and its Gujarat correspondent.

Pandya, who represents the government in some post-Godhra riot cases and also in the Nanavati Inquiry Commission, alleged he was cheated after he was told that his services were required to act in a “serial” on riots. TV Today, which owns the Aaj Tak channel, denied the charges.

Ahmedabad district collector Dhananjay Dwivedi, who placed restrictions on the three channels, said his instructions were misinterpreted. Dwivedi also sought to put onus on the cable TV operators to resume the transmission.

“The instructions were misinterpreted. It was clearly stated to the cable operators that only the particular news programme on the sting operation on the post-Godhra riot incidents and other such programmes should not be shown. There was no ban on the networks showing other programmes,” Dwivedi said.

Dwivedi said the instructions given three days back were very clear and in spite of this, the channels and the cable operators acted in a hasty manner and stopped transmitting any news bulletin.

“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,” Dwivedi said.

Meanwhile, the Editors Guild of India condemned the blocking the cable distribution of the channels saying it is a “blatant assault” on freedom of Press.

The Nanavati Commission probing the Sabarmati Express train carnage at Godhra and the subsequent communal riots, meanwhile, said it would decide on Monday whether to look into the contents of the sting operation. — PTI