EC seeks I&B Ministry's response on Namo TV launch

The Election Commission (EC) has sought details of "Namo TV" from the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry on complaints filed by the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), sources said on Wednesday.

Launched last week, the channel uses the (political) initials of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is devoted to coverage of his rallies and speeches. Both Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have promoted Namo TV on the social media.

In a tweet, soon after its launch, Modi shared a picture saying the channel will have a "real-time coverage of PM Modi's exciting election campaign and a lot more fascinating content".

The Congress on Monday moved the EC seeking strictures against Modi and the BJP for promoting "Namo TV" as "a political tool" when the model code of conduct (MCC) was in force, and using the government-owned Doordarshan for their election campaign.

It urged the EC to issue "urgent and necessary directions" to the I&B Ministry and DTH service providers to take action against the channel.

The AAP also filed a complaint with the EC stating if permission can be given to a party to have own TV channel when the poll code of conduct was in force.

--IANS

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