new delhi media one and asianet news the two malayalam language channels that were placed under a 48hour ban by the union ministry of information and broadcasting were back on air on saturday morningfollowing the lifting of the ban asianet news was back on air at 130 am and media one at 930 amthe ib ministry on friday imposed a 48hour ban for their alleged biased reportage of the delhi violencethe action against asianet news and media one follows the ministrys accusation that both channels flouted the programme code and highlighted the attack on places of worship and sided with one particular community the ban order came under sharp protests by the from the political class who referred to the decision as an unprecedented attack on media freedom congress leader p chidambaram and cpm chief sitaram yechury condemned the action as undemocratic and authoritarian in its order on media one the government had also said the channel deliberately focused on vandalism by caa supporters it also questions rss and alleges delhi police inaction channel seems to be critical towards delhi police and rss the ministrys march 6 order said the ministry also showcaused media one but remained dissatisfied with the channels responsemedia one editor in chief cl thomas however had condemned the government action as an attack on free and fair journalism and said the organisation would challenge the governments decision legally in the case of asianet news the ministry had taken exception to the channel alleging that the central government did not act to control the riots and central forces reached the riot hit areas after long hours of the meeting of union minister amit shah both channels were issued showcause notices by the ministry in which they defended their reportage and asserted the coverage was not contemptuous of any of any religious group however the ministry remained unimpressed and imposed the 48hour ban on their telecastmodi govt backs press freedom javadekarunion information and broadcasting minister prakash javadekar on saturday stated that the narendra modi government supports the freedom of pressspeaking to reporters in pune about the ban on two channels javadekar said that he would look into the matter and issue orders if necessaryhe also said the prime minister has expressed concern over the entire issuethe 48hour ban was imposed on asianet news and media one on friday for reportage that could enhance communal disharmony across the country