The Election Commission of India has sought details of ‘Namo TV’ from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) after the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) raised objections, alleging violation of the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
In a letter to the EC, the AAP had earlier urged the poll panel to ensure level playing field for all political parties, citing various Supreme Court judgments.
“The intention behind these judicial precedents is to have equal opportunities for all political parties, irrespective of money and muscle power so that all political parties can reach out to the voters. But defying this very cardinal principle, the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) has launched a 24-hour ‘Namo TV’ channel ” the party said.
The AAP sought to know whether a party could be given approval to have its own TV channel after the Model Code of Conduct was enforced and, if so, who would monitor its contents.
If the BJP did not approach the media certification committee to certify the contents and cost of the telecast, had the Election Commission served a show-cause notice, it asked.
The Congress had also sought urgent directions to the MoIB and DTH (direct to home) service providers for strict action, apart from strictures against the Prime Minister and the BJP for using the channel as a tool for political campaign during the MCC.
‘Promoting Modi’
The channel’s logo is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph and it is dedicated solely to promoting events related to him and to the achievements of his government.
“A perusal of the website of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has revealed that neither ‘Namo TV’ nor ‘Content TV’ finds a mention on the list of ‘Permitted Private Satellite TV Channels’ (as updated and viewed on 30.03.2019),” said the Congress, alleging that the channel’s contents were being broadcast in violation of the rules and regulations pertaining to cable television.
