Jindal moves poll panel against news channels

Congress MP Naveen Jindal, who is seeking re-election from Kurukshetra, Tuesday moved the Election Commission saying some news channels should be restrained from airing "false, defamatory and misleading news items" about him.

In a petition to the commission, Jindal said the news channels violated orders of the poll panel.

He said a programme telecast March 7 carried a "false and mischievous story" about a mine in Bhilwada having been allotted to the Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL), of which Jindal is the chairman.

He said a programme telecast March 10 talked about the ticket given to him.

"In the programme, it was mentioned that 'first charge sheet has been filed in coal scam' and the logo of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd was prominently displayed, which is completely wrong, false and misleading as first charge sheet has been filed against Nav Bharat company," the petition said.

It also said that March 16, a TV programme aired a "false and misleading news item" about him.

Jindal said the news items were also against guidelines of the National Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA).

He said the channels telecast "85 specific news stories" targeting him and his company, after the model code of conduct came into force.

"By airing the said programmes, these channels are creating wrong, false and misleading impression in the mind of general public of my parliamentary constituency that I am a tainted politician and do not deserve to be given ticket," he said, urging the poll panel to "take suitable action" on his complaint.

Jindal requested that the channels may be restrained by the commission from airing "false, defamatory and misleading news" against him.