World Desk, AnyTV, London
Published by: Harendra Chaudhary
Updated Thu, 24 Feb 2022 05:38 PM IST
Summary
Observers say complaints against RT have long been deep-rooted in Western countries. There is a common complaint here that RT gives high importance to the contradictions of Western societies. This has enabled him to widen social divisions. The fact of the general election held in Germany last year came to the fore that the most viewed video clips on the Internet were from RT.
Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Russia’s TV channel Russia Today (RT), is among the people the European Union (EU) has announced to impose sanctions amid the deepening crisis in Ukraine. On the other hand, there has been a demand to ban this channel in Britain as well. This demand arose in the Parliament there. After that Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that an investigation had been started to find out the possibility of restrictions. Shortly before, on the orders of the government in Germany, the YouTube channel of this channel was banned.
The Leader of the Opposition in the UK Parliament, Carey Starmer, described RT as Russia’s propaganda channel and questioned why the government was not stopping it. On this, Prime Minister Johnson said that Ofcom (Office of Communications) has started investigation in this regard. He sarcastically said that in Britain it is decided by a committee of experts, not politicians like in Russia.
Russia is keeping Russia’s side firmly
Observers say complaints against RT have long been deep-rooted in Western countries. There is a common complaint here that RT gives high importance to the contradictions of Western societies. This has enabled him to widen social divisions. Last year’s general election in Germany revealed the fact that the most viewed video clips on the Internet were from RT. Then it was alleged that RT has shown great importance to the vaccine and anti-lockdown movements. It also gives a lot of space to extreme right wing and extreme left wing ideas.
The ongoing dispute over Ukraine has created an impression that the RT is firmly on the side of Russia, while there are anti-Russian sentiments in Western countries. For this reason, there has also been an atmosphere against RT. But the demand to ban RT in the UK has also faced opposition from many quarters. Former British diplomat Peter Ford and former London mayor Ken Livingstone have backed RT’s right to provide news and analysis as per their understanding.
Disturbing discussion of the ban
Ford, who served as Britain’s ambassador to Syria and Bahrain, said the discussion of sanctions was disturbing. This whole episode is ridiculous. He has alleged that Ofcom is acting at the behest of the British government, so is not in a position to play the role of a real judge. Ford said it was using Ofcom to do what the British government wanted. Livingstone has even said that he watches RT everyday and has never found him involved in propaganda. On the contrary, he alleged that the British media was not telling the truth to the people of Britain.
The last Chinese TV channel CGTN was banned in the UK. Even then questions were raised about Britain’s allegiance to freedom of expression. It was said that in Britain this freedom is respected only as long as it is spoken about.
Expansion
Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Russia’s TV channel Russia Today (RT), is among the people the European Union (EU) has announced to impose sanctions amid the deepening crisis in Ukraine. On the other hand, there has been a demand to ban this channel in Britain as well. This demand arose in the Parliament there. After that Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that an investigation had been started to find out the possibility of restrictions. Shortly before, on the orders of the government in Germany, the YouTube channel of this channel was banned.
The Leader of the Opposition in the UK Parliament, Carey Starmer, described RT as Russia’s propaganda channel and questioned why the government was not stopping it. On this, Prime Minister Johnson said that Ofcom (Office of Communications) has started investigation in this regard. He sarcastically said that in Britain it is decided by a committee of experts, not politicians like in Russia.
Russia is keeping Russia’s side firmly
Observers say complaints against RT have long been deep-rooted in Western countries. There is a common complaint here that RT gives high importance to the contradictions of Western societies. This has enabled him to widen social divisions. Last year’s general election in Germany revealed the fact that the most viewed video clips on the Internet were from RT. Then it was alleged that RT has shown great importance to the vaccine and anti-lockdown movements. It also gives a lot of space to extreme right wing and extreme left wing ideas.
The ongoing dispute over Ukraine has created an impression that the RT is firmly on the side of Russia, while there are anti-Russian sentiments in Western countries. For this reason, there has also been an atmosphere against RT. But the demand to ban RT in the UK has also faced opposition from many quarters. Former British diplomat Peter Ford and former London mayor Ken Livingstone have backed RT’s right to provide news and analysis as per their understanding.
Disturbing discussion of the ban
Ford, who served as Britain’s ambassador to Syria and Bahrain, said the discussion of sanctions was disturbing. This whole episode is ridiculous. He has alleged that Ofcom is acting at the behest of the British government, so is not in a position to play the role of a real judge. Ford said it was using Ofcom to do what the British government wanted. Livingstone has even said that he watches RT everyday and has never found him involved in propaganda. On the contrary, he alleged that the British media was not telling the truth to the people of Britain.
The last Chinese TV channel CGTN was banned in the UK. Even then questions were raised about Britain’s allegiance to freedom of expression. It was said that in Britain this freedom is respected only as long as it is spoken about.