Tribune News Service

Nawanshahr, December 20

Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal said the district administration would keep a close vigil over paid news and advertisement content during the 2022 Assembly elections.

Addressing members of the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) at the District Administrative Complex, the Deputy Commissioner said the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued strict instructions to monitor advertisements, publicity of candidates and paid news in print and electronic media, besides channels owned by political parties and expenses on these advertisement would be included in the account of candidates from the date of filing of nominations.

He said the administration has constituted the committee to keep tabs on news content on channels, newspapers and social media. Sarangal said all members must perform their duty diligently.

The Deputy Commissioner said the committee would keep watch on poll-related news and features appearing in print, electronic and social media, during the poll process. He said the committee would be responsible for certification of advertisements, monitoring of news in print and electronic media and keeping records of election-related news of candidates in the fray.

He said the committee members would verify the advertising contents sought to be broadcast by candidates or their supporters before releasing them to the electronic media.

Meanwhile, a training session was held by Nawanshahr SDM Dr Baljinder Singh Dhillon. District Public Relations Officer Ravi Inder Singh Makkar, Principal Surinder Agnihotri, Parmod Bharti, Omkar Singh, Jasvir Singh, Harjinder Singh, Rajwinder Lakha, Om Parkash, Surinder Pal, Amritpal Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Sandeep Singh, Palwinder Singh and Daljit Singh, among others, were present in the session.