Centre turns down proposal of live telecast of Gujarat assembly

New Delhi, 20 December 2011

Prasar Bharati, an arm of Government of India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting has turned down a proposal of Speaker of Gujarat State Assembly for live telecast of Gujarat assembly proceedings on Doordarshan.

Replying to a question asked by Gujarat BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dilipbhai Pandya, the minister of state in the ministry of Information and broadcasting Shri CM Jatua informed the house that Prasar Bharati had informed that a proposal from Speaker of Gujarat State Assembly for live telecast of State Assembly proceedings on Doordarshan was received by Doordarshan Kendra, Ahmedabad in 2007.

The minister further informed that the proposal “could not be approved as per the existing policy”.

“However, Doordarshan Kendra, Ahmedabad is telecasting sponsored programme of the question hour proceedings produced by the Public Relation Department of Gujarat Government from time to time,” he added.

BJP MP Dilipbhai had asked the minister:(a) whether it is a fact that the Ministry has received detailed proposal from the Speaker of Gujarat State Assembly in regard to live telecast of State Assembly proceedings on DD Ahmedabad and Rajkot on the pattern of the other States; (b) if so, the details thereof and the present status of that proposal; (c) whether that proposal has been considered by the Ministry, so far; (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and (e) by when the said proposal would be considered?