Congress seeks action against Modi over ‘paid news’ on India TV

PTI, New Delhi | April 15, 2014: Congress on Tuesday moved the Election Commission seeking stern action against Narendra Modi and BJP, dubbing as “paid news” “Aap ki Adalat” programme on India TV featuring the BJP PM candidate.

“The sole purpose, as can be concluded from tone and tenor of the questions put to him, and the entire programme, was to give unfair and urdue electoral advantage to Modi.” “The programme was calculated, conceived and comprehended by and on behalf of BJP and Shri Modi for electoral gains. It was scribled for Modi, the BJP prime ministerial candidate”, K C Mittal,  Secretary, AICC Legal Department, told the EC.

Claiming the programme was in “utter disregard” and violation of the model code of conduct and guidelines issued by the EC, Mittal noted veteran journalist Qumar Wahid Nakvi, who was holding a senior position in India TV, has resigned.

Mittal claimed the journalist quit “in protest against the programme, which would further “the manner of misuse of the channel by BJP and Shri Modi for their election propaganda.”

“It is not only a paid news but total misuse of the channel by BJP for their election campaign”, he told the EC, insisting that the programme was designed for election campaign for Modi and BJP and “not as a news item or routine programme”.