EC gives go-ahead to TV channel named after Narendra Modi

By PTI

Updated: Saturday, October 13, 2012, 12:03 [IST]

New Delhi, Oct 13: Launched under the supervision of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and carrying Chief Minister Narendra Modi's initials, the new 'NaMo Gujarat' television channel on Friday, Oct 12 got the Election Commission's nod, but with some riders, in the election-bound state where model code of conduct has been in force.

The new TV channel was launched a day after the announcement of the assembly election schedule in the state, only to be shut within a day on Oct 5, pending clearances. The Commission has now cleared the channel launch but has put certain conditions for monitoring political advertisements and possible paid news on the channel during the election period, highly placed sources in the Election Commission said.

The poll body gave its nod after the District Electoral Officer of Ahmedabad, where the channel is headquartered, had sought the EC's permission before granting a licence to it. Imposing certain conditions on the channel, the Commission said all political advertisements relayed during the election period will have to be first cleared by Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) before telecast. It also asked the DEO to ensure that all relevant provisions of the Model Code of Conduct are strictly adhered to by the channel.

Permitting reporting of campaigns in a 'newsworthy' manner, the EC said that "when in the garb of news, the campaign becomes publicity or advertisement for a candidate, it is to be examined by the Committee as case of suspected paid news." For the 'NaMo Gujarat' channel, the state BJP unit has partnered with five local Gujarati satellite channels in the state to broadcast its contents, highlighting Modi's development initiatives and will be aired by all cable networks, direct-to-home (DTH) and digital TV viewers.

The project has been launched under the supervision of state Industries Minister Saurabh Patel and BJP's Parindu Bhagat, both close aides of the Chief Minister. 'NaMo' is named after Narendra Modi's initials and also means "bowing down" in Gujarati.

PTI