UT poll department to clear every speech

CHANDIGARH: All political speeches, videos, text, and voice messages on different media will have to pass through the eyes of the UT election department’s media certification committee before publication or telecast.

Parties will have to seek permission for advertising their Lok Sabha election campaigns on television, radio, and newspapers etc. The election department’s teams are scanning the content for any sign of hatemongering, misreporting, and rumour mongering. Six platforms—TV channels, radio, cinema houses, bulk messages in text and voice, audio-visual displays, and social media, are being monitored for any dirty campaign.

The department had a meeting with the representatives of all political parties recently and shared with them the concerns of the stakeholders. It made the parties aware of the motive behind making media certification mandatory during the election period.

“For free certification of advertisement of political matter, the parties and candidates contesting the Chandigarh parliamentary seat will have to submit their videos and messages (voice and text) to the election department three days before release. Individuals and organizations will have to submit it seven days in advance. A senior official in the UT election department said: “Pre-certification of speeches is a must to maintain peace and harmony during the elections.”

The election department has prepared a detailed pro forma that the applicants can use to apply with the district media certification committee for pre-certification. The department has an exclusive office to accept these forms and grant permission.