Opposition decries bias, accuses state broadcaster Sansad TV of blocking out Rahul Gandhi
Story highlights
State-funded Sansad TV is the only channel that has the rights to telecast parliamentary proceedings in India.
As India’s top opposition leader Rahul Gandhi lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on Wednesday (August 9) on the second day of the no-confidence motion debate, a massive row erupted over the alleged portrayal of his speech by state broadcaster Sansad TV.
Opposition party Congress alleged that while Gandhi spoke for about 37 minutes in the lower house of the parliament, Sansad TV showed him on screen for just 14 minutes and 37 seconds. Instead, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was shown for most of the time.
It must be noted that state-funded Sansad TV is the only channel that has the rights to telecast parliamentary proceedings in India.
trending now
)
Tragedy at Telangana Air Force academy: Two Indian Air Force pilots killed in aircraft crash during training
)
11 climbers die in volcanic eruption in Indonesia, search ops halted due to lava discharge
)
WATCH | 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw and Eagles security chief Big Dom ejected after on-field confrontation
)
India state election results: PM Modi's BJP scores a sweeping 3/4 in crucial test before 2024 final
)
Moo-d boosting therapy: This farm offers relaxation through unique cow cuddling sessions
)
Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023 Results Live Updates: BJP ally MNF confident of securing another term
)
Hamas-run govt says 700 Palestinians killed in 24 hours as Israel intensifies operations across Gaza
)
New York stabbing attack: Four killed in Queens neighbourhood as police shoots suspect dead
)
Jason Momoa's Deep Rising, Pleistocene Park by Luke Griswald win top awards at ALT EFF 2023
)
This groundbreaking new drug is all set to increase life span of large dogs
)
Buoyed by electoral success, PM Modi asks oppn not to vent ire on first day of parliament’s winter session
)
Indian PM Modi hails four-state election results as victory of 'politics of development'
)
India's Arshdeep Singh reveals thought process in clinical match-winning last over vs Australia in 5th T20I
)
CID star Dinesh Phadnis aka Fredericks is on ventilator support: Report
)
Morning brief: Ex-US ambassador to Bolivia arrested, and more
What is Congress alleging?
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X, “In his first speech after coming back from the unjustified disqualification, Rahul Gandhi spoke from 12:09 pm to 12:46 pm (37 minutes), during the No-Confidence Motion. Out of which the Sansad TV camera showed him for ONLY 14 mins 37 seconds. That’s less than 40% screen time!”
“What is Mr Modi afraid of,” he asked.
In the second post, Ramesh claimed that when Gandhi spoke on the Manipur issue, which has become a bone of contention between the ruling BJP and opposition INDIA alliance, Sansad TV kept the cameras away for good “71 per cent of the time.”
Watch: PM Modi thinks Manipur is not in India, says Rahul Gandhi while addressing the Lok Sabha
“This gets even worse! Rahul Gandhi spoke on Manipur for 15 min 42 seconds. During which, Sansad TV’s camera focused on the Speaker Om Birla for 11 min 08 seconds i.e. 71% of the time. Sansad TV showed Rahul Gandhi on video for only 4 min 34 seconds while he spoke on Manipur,” Ramesh wrote.
What did Gandhi say on Manipur issue?
During his speech, Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Modi over Manipur, saying that he didn’t visit the violence-hit state because he does not consider Manipur to be a part of India.
“I am saying Manipur but the truth is there is nothing of Manipur left in Manipur. You have divided Manipur into two parts," he said in the Lok Sabha.
“You have killed Mother India in Manipur. My one mom is sitting here and the other mother has been killed in Manipur. Indian army can bring peace in Manipur in one day but you are not using them. You want our soldiers to die,” Gandhi added.
)
