I

New Delhi, Nov 7 (UNI) The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has recommended to the Election Commission to allow political advertising on the private radio.

TV channels were already carrying political advertisements, as per a Supreme Court judgement that has allowed such advertising on the electronic media.

However, the Election Commission had issued a circular banning the radio from airing such advertisements.

''Since poltical ads were already on TV channels, we have recommended to the Election Commission to permit their broadcast from radio too,'' Joint Secretary in the Ministry Zohra Chatterji told UNI.

Private radio operators have long been demanding from the Ministry that they should be treated at par with TV channels by applying the Supreme Court ruling equally to them.

Hailing the Ministry's decision, General secretary of the Radio Operators Association of India Udai Chawla said the step was long overdue. Allowing political advertisements on radio would enhance the sector's revenue which is also shared with the Government.

UNI NAZ AKJ AS1828 UNI NAZ