Didi plans TV channel, paper
Apparently in a bid to counter what West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly described as negative media propaganda, her government will launch a television news channel and a newspaper.
She herself made this announcement on Saturday while addressing a conference of West Bengal Civil Service officers at the Town Hall.
Of late, Ms Banerjee has voiced her increasing annoyance with a section of the media which she views as anti-government. Her decision to launch a news channel and a newspaper is aimed at highlighting her government’s achievements and activities.
“However much good work you do, there will always be negative publicity in the media. It is necessary that your good work is appreciated and it gets due recognition. Therefore, we have decided to launch our own news channel and newspaper which will publicise the good work of the government,” she said, adding that this project would be handled by the panchayat and rural development department.
She advised the BDOs not to be perturbed by “canards” being spread by the media. “There is a saying that raja chale bazar aur kutta bhonke hazar. So you continue doing your work ignoring the criticism,” she added. She alleged that the media was trying to make non-issues into major issues to defame her government.
“But you just wait for another month or so and then they will not get any issue which they can use to malign the government,” she added.
Ms Banerjee also claimed that her critics would be automatically silenced when the book on her government’s one year in office is published shortly.
Angered by the criticism of her “undemocratic” police decisions and “outrageous” statements, Ms Banerjee has openly crossed swords with the media.
She has advised people to not watch a few channels which she dubbed “CPI(M) channels”.
Recently Ms Banerjee mentioned the names of a few government-friendly channels which she recommended for public watching.
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Subbarami: no final nellore decision yet
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, April 21
Referring to the report published in this newspaper on April 21, 2012, the Congress Rajya Sabha MP, Mr Subbarami Reddy, has made it clear that candidature for the Nellore parliamentary byelection has not yet been decided by the party high command. Mr Reddy, however, understands that his name is under consideration.
The resignation of Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy from the Congress to join the YSR Congress necessitated the byelection for the Nellore constituency. The YSR Congress has nominated Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy as the party candidate to contest the byelection.
Mr Subbarami Reddy was elected to the Upper House in 2002 and re-elected in 2008.
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