The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TV coverage issue ends on tame note

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 18, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TV coverage issue ends on tame note

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, FEB. 17. The controversy over the live telecast of the Assembly proceedings ended today with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) relenting on its demand to allow a private TV channel take up coverage.

The Speaker, K.R. Suresh Reddy, stuck to his stand.All that he conceded was that the General Purposes Committee of the Assembly comprising floor leaders of all parties and chairmen of the standing committees would ensure transparency in the output to the TV channels. The Assembly would in no way impose restrictions on telecast by the channels.

Issue closed

The Speaker asked the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, to take up with the Centre the possibility of Doordarshan telecasting the Assembly proceedings from 8.30 am to 1.30 p.m. like it was done in Parliament. He ordered the issue closed at this stage and asked members who were interested in dragging it to see him in his chambers. The controversy was raised again in the day during zero hour through a point of order by the TDP Deputy Leader, T. Devender Goud. The Speaker, however, gave a ruling that there was no discussion on the subject to raise a point of order. Moreover, the subject related to the Speaker.

Floor leaders intervened to appeal to the Speaker to maintain transparency in the output released to private channels.

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