The mystery is finally over. Someone has owned up to NaMo TV, a channel which created a political storm soon after its launch on 31 March. There were questions raised on its ownership, compliance with law and violation of model code of conduct.
Now, at least one of those questions has been answered. We finally know who owns it. Unsurprisingly, it is the BJP.
The BJP admitted that NaMo TV is run by its own IT Cell, according to a report by The Indian Express. “NaMo TV is a feature of NaMo app which is run by BJP IT cell. (The) Party has taken slots on DTH for which provisions are there to show it,” head of BJP IT Cell Amit Malviya told The Indian Express.
This admission comes just days after the Election Commission directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi to ensure that the contents of NaMo TV are pre-certified by the local media certification and monitoring committee.
The report further said that Delhi Chief Electoral Office’s Media Certification and Monitoring Committee’s told the EC that the NaMo TV content, which is mostly pre-aired speeches of Modi, did not qualify as advertisement.
DTH service provider Tata Sky had said the channel is a “special service” and its content comes from the BJP. Initially though, it had called NaMo TV a “Hindi news service which provides the latest breaking news on national politics.”
Meanwhile, the EC has banned the release of PM Modi biopic, PM Narendra Modi, till election period, saying any such film that subserves purpose of any political entity or individual should not be displayed in the electronic media.
(With PTI inputs)