THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hours after the 48-hour ban imposed by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry was lifted, the management of Malayalam news channels Asianet News and Media One came up explaining the developments that led to the lifting of the ban.

While denying reports that the channel management had apologised to the I&B ministry, Asianet News Editor MG Radhakrishnan said that they had contacted the ministry and explained their position on the issue.

"They (management) seemed to have succeeded in its attempt. Since it was night there was no time for making any formal application. They spoke with all the people concerned in the ministry and convinced them. That is what the minister has also come out saying today," Radhakrishnan said.

He further added that the management had not apologised to the ministry. "There was no apology made from our side. The reporting was all factual," he added.

Meanwhile, Media One Editor-in-chief C L Thomas said his channel had not reached out to the government and the ministry "suo motu" revoked the ban.

"We were proceeding for legal action. Today we got the information that the ban has been revoked, so we did not go ahead with the legal proceedings. We did not contact anyone in the ministry, the government suo motu lifted the ban," Thomas said.

"We are happy that the ministry has suo motu lifted the ban. We will continue on the same path we have been following and upholding the classical values of journalism," Thomas said.

The two channels were suspended for 48 hours over their coverage of last month's communal violence in Delhi, with the official orders saying they covered events on February 25 in a manner that "highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community".