Delhi assembly elections 2015: ‘Fake’ stings: Poll panel flashes broadcast norms

NEW DELHI: With AAP seeking Election Commission’s intervention to prevent airing of “fake” sting operations ahead of polling in Delhi, the poll watchdog on Friday drew attention to News Broadcasting Standards Authority’s (NBSA) guidelines on election broadcasts, requiring news broadcasters to avoid all forms of rumour, baseless speculation and disinformation against political parties and candidates.
The norms issued by NBSA on March 3, 2014, and reiterated by the EC in its note of January 15, 2015, state that news broadcasters must endeavour to avoid all forms of rumour, baseless speculation and disinformation, particularly when these concern specific political parties or candidates. “Any candidate/ party, which has been defamed or is a victim of misrepresentation, misinformation or other similar injury by broadcast of information should be afforded prompt correction, and where appropriate, granted an opportunity to reply,” state the guidelines.
Norms require EC to monitor news broadcasts during polls and report any violation to NBSA, which will then be dealt by the latter.
Chief election commissioner H S Brahma told TOI on Friday that NBSA guidelines provide parties and candidates a forum to complain about poll-eve “fake” stings and seek an immediate restraint on their broadcast. “ EC on January 15 reiterated the guidelines. No further action by the commission is required,” he stated.
Incidentally, Press Council’s guidelines for election reporting by the print media restrain them from publishing false or critical statements in regard to the personal character and conduct of any candidate as to prejudice his/her poll prospects.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had on Wednesday alleged that a member of a rival party was aspiring to plant “fake” stories against some AAP candidates. He recalled how a set of “false” stings were aired against six candidates last year, marring their poll prospects.