Thursday, April 04, 2019

Institutional Surrender Intensifies !?

You must be aware that the Election Commission allowed the Movie on Narendra Modi to release in April while it considered the release of a book on Rafale controversy in violation of the Election Code of Conduct. They probably will not stop Modiji to inaugurate a Temple in UAE the foundation stone of which was also laid down by the PM.
It is nothing new - Governments try to do surrogate advertising or promotion trying to bypass the code of conduct without technically violating it. The problem of course is differential treatment to cases by a constitutional body like that of the EC. It is already dragging its feet on the matter of Governor Kalyan singh calling for need to elect BJP again or on the matter of Amit shah calling the Indian Army Modi ki Army - by referring earlier matter to the President while taking circuitous route on the second one.

And then pops on your DTH tv channels a new channel - Namo TV dedicated to speeches and rallies of Namo. In an era where you have to choose which channels you wish to be broadcasted on your TVs - this channel simply pops up on your TV one fine day - without needing your permission. And to top it - this channel started just like that - it never applied for a broadcast licence - no permissions taken. It also does not have a compulsory security clearance and this makes the enterprise illegal under broadcast laws.
Interestingly the I&B ministry hinted to media that NaMo TV doesn't need conventional clearances since its not a regular channel, but an 'advertising platform' being carried by service providers (similar to, say, The Home Shopping Network). LOLssss. While at least Tata Sky has claimed it is a News Channel.
In short if - Namo channel continues to broadcast with all these lapses - and is thumbed into your chosen set of channels - yet again two other important institutions will have surrendered to powers that be - the Prasar Bharti and more worryingly the Election Commission. Worrying but not surprising. Really !!

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