AGENCIES / MUMBAI
Election officials have asked production houses of two Hindi TV serials accused of espousing the BJP-led government’s schemes to get ‘politically influential’ content vetted with them before it is telecast.
Maharashtra’s additional Chief Electoral Officer Dilip Shinde, in an order issued yesterday said that the production houses should get politically influential content checked from election officials before using it in their serials. He said, going by the content aired, it is evident that it is a violation of model code of conduct.
Election officials have also directed producers of television serials Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai and Tujhse Hai Raabta to remove content that was deemed to benefit prospects of a political party. The two production houses had subsequently replied to the notice.
The official said the producers had denied the allegations of promoting government schemes to propagate a political party, claiming they had no such intention.
The Congress had taken objection to characters in the two TV serials praising government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Swacch Bharat Abhiyan and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.
The producers have also been asked to not to show any such content which may disturb the level playing field of any political party.