ISSUE OF STALLING KONKANNI NEWS-BULLETIN BY EC WILL BE RAISED IN RAJYA SABHA
Konkanni news- bulletin which was to go on air from
Panaji Station of Doordarshan on 26th January, could not take of on
account of lack of clearance from Election Commission.
Mr Shantaram Naik M.P. who has been trying to see that the bulletin
starts from the Panaji Station at the earliest, in a statement issued
today, said that there was absolutely no need of EC clearance in this
matter, as there was no ceremony planed for the commencement of the
bulletin and no government minister or politician was to remain present
in the studio for the purpose.
Mr Naik said that the bulletin could commence like any
other programe and added that if a private channel was to start a
bulletin today, EC could not have prevented it. This bulletin , Mr
Naik said , was to commence on 19th December 2011 to mark the Golden
Jubilee of Goa’s liberation but because of some technical difficulties,
it could not see the light of the day.
Mr Naik said these technical difficulties persisted even till
yesterday night , and that, he was successful in getting the clearance
late night on 25th but, local Doordarshan officials at Panaji knowing
the nature of interpretations being resorted by EC in recent days,
thought it safe to seek NOC from the Chief Electoral Officer, who as
usual has referred the matter to Delhi, thereby stalling the bulletin.
Mr Naik said that it will be violation of freedom of expression
if Doordarshan is denied permission to communicate with the people
through their news bulleting on the eve of elections.
It will also be violation of Code of Conduct on the part of election
authorities themselves, applying their own interpretation of Code of
Conduct, Mr Naik said.
Mr Naik said that he is going to raise the issue of in the Rajya
Sabha during the budget session and, further would move a Private
Member’s bill to amend the Constitution to clarify that provisions of
article 324 of the Constitution gives only limited powers to Election
Commission.
SHANTARAM NAIK
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protect Goa's natural beauty
Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve
Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
