| Feeling that they are likely to get caught in between
the crossfire of the government and the Election Commission, the broadcasters
have decided to take their own initiative regarding political ads
that are being put on air by front organizations of parties.
According to information available with indiantelevision.com, the
Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), apex body of broadcasting
companies operating
in India, are meeting on Monday morning here to discuss the issue
of surrogate political ads and the controversy that it has generated.
The IBF is likely to take a stand on the issue and would advocate
restraint on the part of the members on this issue.
Claiming that IBF would urge its members to “follow self-regulation”,
a source in the organization said, “Before the government or the
EC cracks down on channels, which may put a stop to some additional
revenue that is likely to flow in from political parties, it is
better that broadcasters
screen political ads, surrogate or otherwise, to ensure no personal
attacks are made and limits of decency are not crossed.”
However, a final shape of this initiative would only emerge after
the meeting where members would discuss various modalities. Some
members who would not be able to make it to the Delhi meeting would
be contacted over
phone for their personal views on the issue.
On a complaint filed by the Congress Party, the Election Commission
on Saturday directed the government to revert with an action taken
plan by Monday on some ads that are doing the rounds of TV channels
and, which
Congress feels, is an unjust, indecent and direct attack on its
president, Sonia Gandhi.
The government can direct TV channels to stop airing certain ads
under the programming and advertising code of the Cable TV Network
(Regulation) Act, 1995. But since the ad in question, which has
upset the Congress, has been put out by an organization whose links
could be traced back to some senior members of the ruling Bharatiya
Janata Party, the government finds itself in
a bind.
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