INDIA to ‘boycott’ TV news anchors, calling them ‘biased’ and ‘communalisation’ of debates – Firstpost

The Indian opposition bloc has decided to “boycott” certain television news presenters whom it considers “biased” and who think they are “communitizing” news debates.

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will soon present a list whose debates and broadcasts will be boycotted by opposition parties.

The decision was taken on Wednesday at the first meeting of the INDIA Coordination Committee, where it authorized the subgroup on media to draft the names of presenters.

“The coordination committee has authorized the sub-group on media to decide on the names of anchors to whose shows none of the Indian parties will send representatives,” Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said.

During the meeting, some members of the bloc insisted that drastic measures be taken to avoid engaging with “biased” television networks, according to a report from Times of India.

The first meeting of the INDIA Coordination Committee was held at the residence of Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. The group also announced it would hold its first joint public meeting in the poll-bound state of Madhya Pradesh next month.

The opposition’s war against presenters

The opposition, especially the Congress, is waging a war against news anchors.

During Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, the party accused a section of the media of not giving enough spotlight to the campaign.

“People are supporting the Yatra and so is social media. But mainstream media continues to boycott it,” said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

“I claim that the publishers boycotted the yatra. Thousands of people join the campaign. Won’t you show such a huge campaign? he added.

Similarly, in 2019, the party boycotted televised debates for a month.

“Congress has decided not to send a spokesperson during televised debates for a month. All media channels/publishers are requested not to place Congress representatives in their shows,” senior party leader Randeep Surjewala had posted at the time.