Rejection of Sun Group’s applications motivated: Opposition

Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu have slammed the Centre for rejecting Sun Groups’s applications to participate in the FM auctions.

The Centre’s denial of security clearance to the Group and subsequent rejection of the applications amount to “strangulation of democracy,” DMK president M. Karunanidhi said. Baseless allegations led to such a decision, he said, adding that there was no explanation offered as to what threat there was for national security.

Pointing to remarks made by former Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran, Association of Radio Operators for India (AROI) general secretary Uday Chawla and Tamil Nadu politicians, including Vaiko and E.V.K.S. Elangovan, against the Centre’s move, Mr. Karunanidhi said: “Sun TV’s five applications being rejected are condemnable.”

Repressing the group even before the final judgment is out amounts to curbing the fundamental right to free expression, PMK founder S. Ramadoss said, in a statement.