K’taka BJP flags ‘discrimination’ in media coverage of Oppn MLAs during Assembly session
Bengaluru: Karnataka senior BJP leader and Assembly Leader of Opposition (LoP) R. Ashoka on Monday wrote to Speaker G.S. Patil seeking intervention over what he alleged was discriminatory treatment in the release of statements, photographs and videos of opposition leaders and MLAs during the Monsoon Session, which is currently underway in Bengaluru.
In a letter released to the media, Ashoka said the Monsoon Session, which began on August 13, was witnessing a practice where statements, photographs and videos of the LoP and opposition legislators were allegedly not being released during Assembly proceedings.
He claimed that the alleged withholding had resulted in photographs and videos of opposition members not being carried by print media or broadcast by television channels, according to his letter.
In contrast, Ashoka alleged that statements, photographs and videos of the Chief Minister, Ministers and ruling-party MLAs were being released, giving greater visibility to the ruling side.
“Such discrimination in the coverage of Assembly proceedings has never happened in the past,” Ashoka said in the letter.
He requested the Speaker to immediately instruct the concerned Information Department officials to rectify the disparity in the release of media material from the Assembly.
Ashoka warned that failure to address the issue would prompt the opposition to move a privilege motion against the officials concerned.
“Therefore, I request you to immediately instruct the concerned officials of the Information Department to rectify this discrimination. Otherwise, a privilege motion will be moved against the officials concerned,” he stated in the letter.
The BJP leader’s allegation comes amid the ongoing Monsoon Session, with the opposition raising several issues against the Congress government and questioning its decisions on several matters.
Ashoka’s letter has sought the Speaker’s intervention to ensure equal media treatment for members from both sides of the House. He said equal access to Assembly-related media material was essential for fair public representation.