Paid news: CEO accused of inaction
The Congress and the Telugu Desam on Tuesday virtually targeted Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal, accusing his office of not taking action on complaints lodged by them. While a Congress delegation met the CEO and alleged that no action was taken on a number of complaints filed by the party, TD Parliamentary party leader Nama Nageswara Rao lodged a similar complaint with the Election Commission in New Delhi. The parties expressed ire against Sakshi media house, owned by YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, carrying paid news both in print and electronic media, and the screening committee at the office of the CEO not acting on the complaints.
“It is quite perplexing how the authorities could conveniently ignore the coverage by Sakshi of election and political events every day,” the MP said. Mr Bhanwar Lal, however, clarified that “paid news” not “paid articles” come under the scanner of the EC. The district-level committees appointed to scrutinise the news in print and electronic media did not report a single case of violation. The CEO said as per the procedure laid down by the EC, the paid news is under the purview of the district committees.
‘Sentencing’ Jagan is code violation: EC
CEO Bhanwar Lal on Tuesday cautioned political leaders against predicting imprisonment for Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy as it was “violation of not only election laws but judicial norms as well.”
Responding to a question whether the CM’s repeated assertion in the election speeches that Jagan would serve at least 14 years jail is a violation of the code, he said, “Since the matter is sub-judice, talking about punishment is not only against election laws but also judicial norms.” Referring to speeches by the CM that electing the Congress would ensure development as the party was in power, he said it would amount to “disturbing” the level playing field.
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