Violation of freedom of expression for Doordarshan says Shantaram Naik 2012-01-27It's a violation of the Code of Conduct on the part of election authorities themselves, applying their own interpretation of Code of Conduct, says Member of Parliament Shantaram Naik. A Konkanni news- bulletin was to go on air from Panaji Station of Doordarshan on 26th January. It did not happen on account of lack of clearance from Election Commission. Actually, it had been scheduled for launch for 19th December, but there were some technical glitches says a press release from Member of the Rajya Sabha Shantaram Naik.
Naik says that he has been trying to see that the bulletin starts from the Panaji Station and that there was no need of EC clearance in this matter, since no ceremony was planned for the launch of the bulletin. No minister or politician would be present at the studio either. But the station director insisted that an NOC be taken from the Chief Electoral Officer, who as usual referred the matter to Delhi, thereby stalling the bulletin.
It will be a violation of freedom of expression if Doordarshan is denied permission to communicate with the people through their news on the eve of elections, says Naik.
Naik said that he is going to raise the issue in the Rajya Sabha during the budget session and, further would move a Private Member’s bill to amend the Constitution to clarify that provisions of article 324 of the Constitution gives only limited powers to Election Commission. | 
