Vijayawada, Nov 29 (UNI) Telugu Dasam Party National President and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu strongly objected to the ban order on some news channels from covering the Assembly proceedings and removal of the media point during the Assembly session starting from Monday.

In a letter sent to the Assembly Speaker T Seetharam here on Sunday, Mr. Naidu made a strong plea for lifting the ban and also for restoration of the media point. The ban on the media was against the spirit of democracy considering the fact that it would be possible only through the media to give voice to the problems of the people.

Mr. Naidu asserted that the media ban in the Assembly was more harmful than even the GO 2430 which was issued by the YSRCP led Government in the past to give punishments to journalists who write stories against the Government.

The TDP chief pointed out that the state and national media had also taken strong objection to GO 2430 as it interfered with the right to freedom of expression. Even the Press Council of India found fault with the arbitrary GO at that time.

Mr. Naidu said that the Opposition has a right to express its opinions on the decisions of the Government. It would be only the media which could place the facts before the people on the positions taken by the ruling and the Opposition parties on various issues.

Mr. Naidu pointed out that the media was allowed to cover the Parliament but a ban was imposed in the AP Assembly. Different rules cannot be applied in different legislative bodies. That would be unconstitutional. As a responsible Opposition party, the TDP would condemn the ban on the media as it amounted to undermining of democratic values.

Mr. Naidu said that many other States in the country also adopted live telecasts. The ban on the media to block the people from knowing the debates in the legislative bodies was unconstitutional.

The TDP chief demanded that immediate steps be taken to permit all sections of the media without any bias to enter and cover the House proceedings in the session starting Monday. The media point should be allowed to function in the Assembly premises till the session is over.

UNI DP JAL 1758