The Telangana Rashtra Samiti has urged the Election Commission to clearly define “paid news” and the category of the news that come under the ambit of paid news.
TRS delegation led by MP B. Vinod Kumar called on the Election Commission team headed by Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat and expressed concern that regular visits by the MPs and other ruling party functionaries were being deemed as paid news and notices were issued to the candidates in some places. The EC should also initiate steps to ensure that there was no halt to the ongoing schemes as they did not come under the model code of conduct.
“Works relating to the smart cities programme, which is an ongoing project, have been stopped at some places. Schemes like this are ongoing and there should be no hindrance to the operation of these schemes,” he said. The delegation appreciated the EC’s efforts to check movement of cash and liquor to induce voters as was evident from the seizure of cash and liquor in some places in the State after the poll schedule was announced.
