Opposition accuses govt of playing TV trick to black out protest inside the House

 Protest visuals were being shown on the internal screens but not ai
red on Lok Sabha TV for public viewing

Some long shots of Opposition members standing in the well of the House were shown later.File photo

J.P. Yadav   |   TT  |  New Delhi   |   06.08.21:  The Opposition on Thursday accused the ruling dispensation of “playing a trick” on them to black out visuals of their protest inside the House on Lok Sabha TV while giving the impression to them that it was being aired.

For the first time during the ongoing monsoon session on Thursday, two big screens installed inside the Lok Sabha showed visuals of Opposition members waving placards and raising slogans in the well of the House.

The Opposition’s happiness, however, was short-lived when they found out that the protest visuals were being shown on the internal screens but not aired on Lok Sabha TV for public viewing.

“Our placards and slogans were being shown on the screens inside the House. Later we found out that the visuals were not shown outside so that people could see it on Lok Sabha TV,” Congress MP Suresh Kodikunnil told The Telegraph.

“After the House was adjourned, Opposition members complained to the Speaker and he assured us that portions of our protest would be shown,” Suresh added.

Some long shots of Opposition members standing in the well of the House were shown later. The Opposition, however, wants their protest and the issues they are raising to be given ample coverage on Lok Sabha TV so that people know why Parliament is being stalled.

“Not only are they (the government) not allowing us to raise the issues by admitting adjournment motions that are being given repeatedly, but Lok Sabha TV is also being used for political purposes only to show the ruling party and not what the Opposition is protesting over,” Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said.

The Lok Sabha secretariat does not show close-ups of protests on the ground that unruly scenes denigrate the dignity of Parliament.

On Lok Sabha TV, viewers can hear the protests, though not clearly, but can’t see close-up visuals. Lok Sabha TV has the sole right of broadcasting uninterrupted House proceedings.he Opposition’s happiness, however, was short-lived when they found out that the protest visuals were being shown on the internal screens but not aired on Lok Sabha TV for public viewing.

“Our placards and slogans were being shown on the screens inside the House. Later we found out that the visuals were not shown outside so that people could see it on Lok Sabha TV,” Congress MP Suresh Kodikunnil told The Telegraph.

“After the House was adjourned, Opposition members complained to the Speaker and he assured us that portions of our protest would be shown,” Suresh added.

Some long shots of Opposition members standing in the well of the House were shown later. The Opposition, however, wants their protest and the issues they are raising to be given ample coverage on Lok Sabha TV so that people know why Parliament is being stalled.

“Not only are they (the government) not allowing us to raise the issues by admitting adjournment motions that are being given repeatedly, but Lok Sabha TV is also being used for political purposes only to show the ruling party and not what the Opposition is protesting over,” Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said.

The Lok Sabha secretariat does not show close-ups of protests on the ground that unruly scenes denigrate the dignity of Parliament.

On Lok Sabha TV, viewers can hear the protests, though not clearly, but can’t see close-up visuals. Lok Sabha TV has the sole right of broadcasting uninterrupted House proceedings.