The Akhilesh Yadav government has planned to start a state’s own TV news channel. The UP state government will today raise the demand during a meeting of information ministers to be hosted by the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry in New Delhi. Though UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is in charge of the information department in the state, he has authorised his Minister for Trade Tax Yasar Shah to represent him at the meeting that is being convened after nearly 10 years.
With Uttar Pradesh is approaching assembly elections in 2017, it seems to be a strategic demand by the government who is making heaven and earth together to maintain its throne in the state. The UP government officials have already inquired about the possibility of starting the Samajwadi Party government’s own channel, reported The Indian Express quoting sourcces in the I&B Ministry. However, they were informed that state governments and assemblies would not be given such permission, sources added.
When asked about it, Shah confirmed that his government would raise the demand in the meeting. In a conversation with The Indian Express, he said, that he had been informed that the Central government does not give permission to state governments to run their own TV news channels. He called it a matter of concern and raised question on it asking when private and government institutions are granted such permission, why not state governments?
It may be mentioned here that early in this year, the Centre had turned down a request from Delhi assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel to grant permission for a channel to be set up to telecast House proceedings, possibly on the lines of Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV.
