Admn to keep strict vigil over paid news: DC

Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, March 18

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said on the guidelines of the Election Commission, the district administration would keep a strict vigil over paid news and advertisement content in the ensuing Lok Sabha poll.

The Deputy Commissioner, accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh, visited the room of Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) and said the committee had been set up with a motive of keeping a strict vigil over the menace of paid news.

He said the Election Commission had issued strict instructions to monitor advertisements, publicity of candidates and paid news by print and electronic media. Expenses on these channels would be included in the account of candidates.

Sharma said the committee would keep a strict vigil over the news content in news channels as well as papers.

Interacting with committee members, the Deputy Commissioner said all members must perform their duty diligently to check such news content. The committee would keep watch on poll-related news and features appearing in print and electronic media. The committee had been mandated for certification of advertisements, monitoring of news in print and electronic media, besides maintaining record of all election-related news of candidates in the fray.

The Deputy Commissioner added that any violation of the model code of conduct by political parties would also be monitored.

He asked the committee to perform its duty diligently for ensuring free, fair and transparent poll.