AAP complains to EC against ‘NAMO TV’

New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday filed a complaint with the Election Commission against a television channel 'NAMO TV' named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In the letter, the AAP said the Supreme Court, in its various judgments, held that there has to be a "level playing field" for all political parties. "The Commission is entrusted with the duty to maintain the same among all the parties."

Mohd Irsad, from AAP's Legal Cell, said the intention behind these judicial precedents was to have equal opportunities to all political parties irrespective of money and muscle power so that all political parties can reach out to the voters.

"But defying this very cardinal principle, the Bharatiya Janata Party has launched a 24-hour channel 'NAMO TV'. It is agreed that they have money and can have own channel," he said, raising four questions before the EC.

"Did BJP approach the Media Certification Committee to certify the contents of the telecast?" he asked.

He asked if permission can be granted to a party to have their own TV channel even after the Model Code of Conduct is enforced.

Who will monitor the content of the telecast? "If no permission sought by the EC, then what action has been taken in this regard?"

Launched last week, the channel is devoted to the coverage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speeches and rallies. Both the BJP and Modi have promoted it on social media.

In a tweet, Modi shared a picture which said the channel will have a "real-time coverage of PM Modi's exciting election campaign and a lot more fascinating content".