Emulating his West Bengal counterpart Mamta Banerjee, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi here on Monday announced launching of a television channel to project the government’s activities and take on the “exaggerated and sensational” reporting of private news channels.
Asserting that “print media is far, far better than electronic media and he does not have any complain against them, be it in Guwahati or New Delhi, Mr Gogoi told reporters, “We have now decided to launch a television channel which will include news as well as entertainment programmes.”
Obviously not happy over the role of television media during 12-hour Assam bandh called by Ulfa hardliners opposing the Prime Minister’s Assam visit, Mr Gogoi said, “The private news channels are busy creating sensationalism and exaggerates news beyond limits.”
When pointed that his announcement comes close on heels of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s similar move, Mr Gogoi said, “If you (media) want to say so, then yes, I am following Mamata Banerjee.” He, however, clarified that the decision to start a government television channel was taken to present true picture of the developments and happenings in the state.
“The private channels are creating extreme sensationalism and this is a phenomenon not just in Assam, but everywhere. Criticism is good, but it should be constructive,” the chief minister said.
Taking a dig at television media, Mr Gogoi pointed out that majority of population living in villages watch Doordarshan only.
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Gogoi to take up migrants issue with PM
MANOJ ANAND
Guwahati, April 23
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi here on Monday said that his government was going to take up the issues of migrants of Indian origin with New Delhi, pleading shelter in India for all those who were coerced to leave Bangladesh after partition because of religious prosecution.
Advocating to consider such cases sympathetically, the chief minister told the media that he has already taken up these issues with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his Assam visit through a memorandum, but now he would be taking it up at the official level.