Live telecast of speeches paid news in disguise: CPI

Lucknow, Feb 4: Live telecast of speeches by leaders of political parties are a form of paid news, Communist party of India said and demanded that the Election Commission should take strict action against it.

"Despite the strict guidelines of Election Commission, speeches of senior leaders of BJP, BSP, SP and Congress were being telecast live in the name of news and shown repeatedly by some channels," CPI Uttar Pradesh secretary Girish said in a letter to Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha.

Live telecast of speeches by political leaders are a form of paid news, the letter said.

Girish said features of 10 to 15 minutes duration on political leaders were also being aired by some channels.

While citing examples that political speeches were being disguised as news, the letter mentioned that speech of Congress campaigner Priyanka Gandhi on February 3 in Amethi was telecast several times by a TV channel, even though she does not hold any public office. Speeches of UP Chief Minister and BSP chief Mayawati were also being aired live by a local channel.

The letter said a complaint was also made on January 24 to the Election commission in this regard but no

PTI