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According to sources in the EC, the issue of DD News was
discussed in detail, with top officials from Prasar Bharati. The
conclusion was that its relaunch early November was okay as per
the model code of conduct that the Commission has laid down for
political parties during election time.
A formal letter from the EC to Prasar Bharati, giving the formal
go-ahead, is expected later in the evening.
At a meeting today in the forenoon, the election commissioner J
M Lyngdoh and his deputy are understood to have given a patient
hearing to Prasar Bharati CEO K S Sarma, who was defending the relaunch
of the news channel on the ground that the date had been decided
much early.
However, the EC has directed Prasar Bharati, which oversees the
functioning of DD and All India Radio (AIR), to be cautious and
that the news channel's relaunch should not be done by a VVIP or
a politician or a minister in the present government.
Though information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad
would have been an ideal candidate to flag off DD News' second inning,
slated to start on 1 November, somebody else would have to do the
honours now.
In all probability, it would be the chairman of Prasar Bharati,
veteran journalist M V Kamath, who would announce the relaunch of
DD News on 31 October.
The relaunch of the channel had been brought to EC's notice by
a clutch of private producers of DD Metro, who had alleged that
by converting the DD Metro channel into a news channel, the government
was attempting to take undue advantage before the state election
to be held between November and December.
After this petition, several other political parties joined the
issue, including the Congress Party, alleging that DD News relaunch
should be deferred till the whole assembly election process was
over.
Also Read:
A question mark on DD
News relaunch early-November
DD News set for 3 November
launch after cabinet okay
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