Thursday, Mar 28 2024 | Time 16:36 Hrs(IST)
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Parliament


RS Members express concern over paid news

New Delhi, May 10 (UNI) Cutting across party lines, Members in the Rajya Sabha today expressed their concern over the menace of ‘paid news’ in the country. Raising the issue during Zero hour, Mr Vijay Goel of the BJP said the menace has assumed a serious proportions of late. ''Today, while reading a newspapers, it gets tough to differentiate between a news item and an advertisement.. Off late, there have been a lot of news that appear more like advertisements,’’ Mr Goel said. In this context, he pointed out that one day he came across a report claiming that there had been been no let-up in pollution levels in Delhi due to odd even scheme. However, the very next day, the same newspaper carried another piece saying that the scheme had been a big success. He said that there should be a committee set up by the media to determine its accountability. Associating himself with the issue, Mr Sharad Yadav of the JD-U said that the issue needs a short duration discussion in the House. Members of the Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Left also related themselves with the concerns on the issue. While Mr Anand Sharma of the Congress said that it was a very serious issue, Mr Sitaram Yechury of the CPI-M termed ‘paid news’ a ‘blot’ on the face of Democracy. Responding to the concerns expressed, Minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said it was a serious issue and that there should be a short duration discussion of half-an-hour on the issue. Speaking on the matter, Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley pointed out that it was an important matter. ''Whatever the Members have shared is based on their experiences. While the Government is committed to free speech, aberrations need to be dealt with,’’ he said. ''Many of us have been victims of the menace,’’ he added. While noting that giving advertisements is an individual's right, Mr Jaitley, said however, if a Government gives advertisements in excess, it is a serious matter’’. It is notable that BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had a few days ago raised the issue and said that there should be short duration discussion on it in the House. UNI AR SB 1340
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