Complaining that the news reports being carried by the Sakshi newspaper and TV channel were mere publicity material promoting their owner and YSR Congress chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and the party’s candidates contesting in the ensuing by-elections, TDP has asked the Election Commission to treat all such reports and discussions as paid news and the cost of publication or telecast be added in the expenditures of the party candidates.
In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer, party senior leader Dadi Veerabhadra Rao has urged the CEO to also take appropriate action against Sakshi newspaper, TV channel and the YSR Congress party for telecasting the political advertisements without certification from the committee constituted by the Election Commission of India.
Referring to the program “Nethala Baani – Praja Vaani” being telecast at 6.30 pm on Sakshi channel since one week, Veerabhadra Rao said that the program has voice bites of YSR Congress candidates and “alleged” general public chosen by the channel. The program was tailor-made in favour of YSR Congress party and its president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. Dadi has alleged that the channel deliberately avoided interview of general voters and supporters of other parties. He stated that the program was a violation of the instructions of the ECI on the paid news and the norms and guidelines of National Broadcasters Association. Dadi also submitted a CD of the “Nethala Baani – Praja Vaani” to the CEO. (NSS)