BJP workers burn Rawat's effigy for 'stopping' channel behind

BJP workers burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Harish Rawat here today and accused him of "stopping" telecast of programmes of a private news channel which had made a purported sting CD on him, a charge rubbished by the CM's media adviser as the saffron party's "rumour mongering".
BJP's Mahanagar unit workers burnt the CM's effigy at Parade Ground in the heart of the city and alleged that after being grilled by the CBI in New Delhi in connection with the sting operation Rawat asked his aides to stop telecast of programmes of the channel.
Terming it as an attack on the fourth pillar of democracy, slogan shouting BJP members said they will not tolerate a move like this which reminded them of the Emergency.

Pradesh BJP President Ajay Bhatt said the restrictions imposed on the telecast of programmes of a particular channel was reminiscent of the press censorship of Emergency days but BJP will oppose any such attempt to gag the press.
Party spokesman Vinay Goel also condemned the move.
However, Rawat's spokesman and media adviser Surendra Kumar refuted the charge saying BJP was spreading just another lie.

"It is mere sensationalism and rumour mongering by BJP. The Congress government has always believed in freedom of expression and will continue to believe in it. But we also appeal for judicious use of this licence which is everybody's responsibility," Kumar said.

One of the representatives of the channel claimed the telecast of its programmes was stopped at most places across the state soon after Harish Rawat's interrogation by the CBI in Delhi last evening but as the move evoked sharp reaction from different quarters including the main opposition, its telecast was restored by afternoon today.
The channel had made the sting CD which purportedly showed Harish Rawat negotiating a deal to buy support of rebel MLAs.