Channel ban: Action taken in nation's interest, says BJP leader

The case with the action on NDTV India is not similar. Here the action is taken in the interest of the nation, BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said

Panaji, Nov 7: A senior BJP leader today said it is unfair to equate the ban order on a national news TV channelto Emergency as the action has been taken in the interest of the nation and in accordance with the law. "Congress had imposed Emergency on India for the sake of their own ego.

The case with the action on NDTV India is not similar. Here the action is taken in the interest of the nation," BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma told reporters today.

Sharma was indirectly referring to the statement by Rahul Gandhi in Congress Working Committee meeting today wherein he said that democracy under present government is going through one of its darkest hours.

"Those people who defeated democracy during Emergency time for their personal egos have no right to speak about it (democracy)," Sharma said. He said such a shut down has been ordered in past against television channels 28 times during the UPA government's rule at the Centre.

"The action against the channel is taken according with the law," he said, adding that "BJP fully respects the freedom of press."

"Those people who do politics over the dead bodies and missing children don't have the right to speak against the political party like BJP," he said.

Talking about Goa, Sharma expressed confidence that the party will bounce back with full majority in the coastal state after the state Assembly elections next year. He said the social welfare schemes implemented by Goa government will drive the party back to power.

PTI