Five MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and a renowned RTI Activist have demanded the formation of a “Media Regulatory Authority

Chandigarh 6 April (Niel Bhalinder Singh): Five MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and a renowned RTI Activist have demanded the formation of a “Media Regulatory Authority” in Punjab during the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections for enforcement of the Representation of People Act, 1951 in letter and spirit. The five AAP MLAs are: Kanwar Sandhu, Nazar Singh Mansahia, Pirmal Singh Khalsa, Jagdev Singh Kamalu, and Jagtar Singh Hissowal. On their behalf, Sandhu and Mansahia addressed the media. The two were joined by Dinesh Chadha, an RTI activist who has been raising issues of public interest.

Sandhu, Mansahia and Chadha demanded that the said Authority should also formulate a “Code of Conduct” for the press, especially all electronic media in Punjab to ensure allocation of equitable sharing of time to recognized political parties during elections in accordance with The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2011. As of now only the electronic media controlled or financed by the Central Government is following the RP Act and the Rules framed thereof in 1961.

“We are demanding this because in the absence of such an Authority and a Code, certain political parties are using channels and cable network to effect voters in their favour. We are surprised that the ECI has not taken cognizance of such a blatant violation of the RP Act, especially in Punjab” they said. They said that they would be writing to the EC on the issue. The proposed Media Regulatory Authority should have representatives of not only the media but also of recognized political parties.

The three said that it is no secret that in Punjab, the SAD President, Sukhbir Singh Badal, has a declared interest in PTC TV Channel. It is also an open secret that successive governments have turned a blind eye to almost the entire cable network in Punjab has been monopolized by Fastway Transmissions Pvt. Ltd. “We wonder why other political parties, including the Punjab Congress have not raised this issue with the EC,” they added.

They reminded the Congress of its commitment made to the people of the state through its Manifesto on the “Cable Mafia” and its resolve to enact a “Cable Authority Act”. “Why has the Congress reneged from its commitment to ‘depoliticize all news channels in Punjab, and end monopoly and cartelization of cable networks,” they asked? They attached copies of pages 15 and 46 of the PPCC Manifesto 2017-2022. A similar resolve was reiterated in the Governor’s address in the Vidhan Sabha after 2017 poll results, they added.

Sandhu said that this issue becomes pertinent in the wake of the recent Judgment dated April 1 in the Defamation case against him filed by Fastway Transmissions Pvt. Ltd for calling the cartel “Cable Mafia”. The Judgement delivered by the Court of Mr. Puneet Mohinia, PCS, Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Ludhiana, while acquitting Sandhu, made a prominent reference to the importance of the Media as the “fourth pillar of democracy”.

The learned Judge stated, “….if media is biased, corrupt and favors only a particular party or few individuals, it can prove to be very dangerous for the smooth functioning of democracy.” Relevant portions of the Judgment were released to the media. Sandhu said that he had been raising this issue of PTC and Cable network even before the 2012 Vidhan Sabha polls. Dinesh Chadha had written to the EC in 2014 on this issue (Copy attached). Nazar Singh said that their party had raised this issue prominently in 2017 Polls.

We are raising this issue again as Congress and AAP had objected to the launch and telecast of a TV Channel called, “NaMo TV”, which is also called “Content TV” at the national level. It carries the picture of Prime Minister Narindra Modi as its logo. It was launched on March 31, 2019 - ahead of the Lok Sabha polls - and broadcasts speeches of the PM and interviews of BJP leaders. EC has reportedly asked I&B Ministry to clarify the issues raised by Congress and AAP (newspaper cuttings enclosed for reference).

While a lot of political parties and individuals are running TV channels on Youtube and Facebook, the issue of NaMo TV being telecast on DTH and Cable platforms from March 31, has revived the debate on TV channels sponsored or owned by political parties being telecast like professional TV channels - on DTH, Cable and IPTV platforms. The MLAs said that the EC should look into the permissions granted, content, and telecast of PTC, other such channels, and the operations of Fastway Transmissions in and around Punjab, just as it is inquiring into the telecast of NaMo TV at the national level.

They demanded that all expenses incurred on running of political owned Satellite TV, Cable TV and Web TV Channels and revenues generated through advertisements should reflect in the election expenses of political parties and leaders who own them. The MLAs requested all media practitioners – print, electronic, and social media – to join them in this endeavor for freedom of expression.