The Election Commission (EC) has issued a notice seeking a report from the I&B Ministry on NaMo TV channel, launched just weeks ahead of the general election. The notice comes after opposition parties, including the Congress, asked the poll body to direct the ministry to suspend the channel as it was violative of the Model Code of Conduct.
Reports said the EC has issued a notice to the Information and Broadcasting Secretary and asked him to submit a report on the channel and its launch by Friday evening.
Here's all you need to know about NaMo TV channel:
- NaMo TVchannel, also called 'Content TV', carries the picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its logo.
- It was launched on March 31, nearly two weeks after the Model Code of Conduct came into effect and ahead of the Lok Sabha polls beginning April 11.
- The channel, available on various DTH and cable TV platforms, broadcast election rallies, speeches of the prime minister and interviews of BJP leaders.
- Though the ruling BJP has maintained that it does not own the channel or the platform, its official Twitter handle had urged people to watch it for the prime minister's election campaign.
- Union minister Piyush Goyal had also tweeted about the channel number while asking viewers to watch the prime minister's events.
- DTH service provider Tata Sky recently put out a tweet saying “NaMo TV is a Hindi News service which provides the latest breaking news on national politics.”
- It also said “the channel is added to all the subscribers as a launch offer. There is no option to delete the individual channel.”
Channel no 512 is NAMO TV, it is a Hindi news service which provides the latest breaking news on national politics ^Rudra
— Tata Sky (@TataSky) March 28, 2019
Hi, this channel is added to all the subscribers as a launch offer. There is no option to delete the individual channel. However, we have made a note of your feedback and shall look into it.
— Tata Sky (@TataSky) April 4, 2019
- According to a report in The Print, NaMo TV never applied for a broadcast licence. It also does not have a compulsory security clearance.
(With inputs from agencies)
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