RS members moot privilege motion against report on RSTV

Around 60 members of the Rajya Sabha have submitted a notice to admit a privilege motion against report in a section of media that Rs.1,700 crore was spent on the Rajya Sabha TV in four years.

"On April 6 and April 8 this year, DNA and Tehelka published that Rajya Sabha TV between 2010 and 2014 spent Rs.1700 crore while reality is that only Rs.146 crore was spent," Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is one of the signatories to the notice, said raising the issue.

"In the papers, it was also written that CAG criticised it, but there is no CAG report on it. It also said the finance ministry had sent a note to Rajya Sabha TV, there is no such note," said Azad.

"Around 60 people across party lines are signatory (to the notice)," he said.

"The question on relevance of Rajya Sabha TV...becomes a privilege of the house," he said, pointing out that the decision of starting RSTV was taken by the whole of the Rajya Sabha.

Azad was joined in by members from several other parties.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, however, said the merits of the case will be examined before taking any decision.

"Criticism of the channel (RSTV) is not criticism of the house, which has decided to have a channel of its own," Naidu said.

"I must tell the house that full facts of the case are not brought before the house. When we refer a matter to privilege committee, we must be convinced a privilege is involved. We must be sure how it affects image of house," said Naidu.

"Before you admit motion, go through full facts of case otherwise it will seem we are encroaching on rights of media," he said.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien then said the matter will be examined.

The quoted reports said RSTV had spent Rs.1,700 crore in four years.

The reports also quoted a draft report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and claimed the auditor said RSTV has no roadmap. The reports also said the CAG's draft report questioned the very relevance of RSTV.