NEW DELHI, Apr 24: The Congress on Saturday, the “National Panchayati Raj Day,” finally launched its new digital media platform “INC TV” to give “voice to the problems of the poor and downtrodden” and help spread its message directly to the people.
An initiative of the former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, the “INC TV” was virtually launched by the AICC general secretary K C Venugopal in the presence of several senior party leaders including the Congress general secretary Ajay Maken, party treasurer Pawan Bansal and party spokesperson Pawan Khera.
The ‘INC TV’ will highlight news which the government does not allow to be published, so as to enable people to know what is happening in the country, AICC secretary Pranav Jha said.
The Congress has been accusing the mainstream media of not showing the party’s views, alleging that it is only highlighting the government’s version.
Venugopal said the digital platform would help raise the voice of the people by highlighting the problems faced by them, especially the poor and the downtrodden.
“The media is afraid of asking questions to the government and the Congress party through this initiative will help raise some of these questions,” Venugopal said.
He said asking questions and making the government accountable is the duty of the media.
The senior party leader pointed to the large number of people dying due to “the shortage of oxygen and other life-saving drugs” in the country during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Congress party believes the media should be the voice of people and the voice of their voices. ‘INC TV’ is one such channel which will put forth the voice of people,” he said.
Maken said the media should put the government in the dock and question it, and only then will there be pressure on the dispensation to act in public welfare.
“The accountability of the government and leaders is a must,” he said.
“Various institutions in the country are under attack from the government and this is not being highlighted in the media,” party treasurer Bansal alleged.
The idea behind the digital TV is to have dissemination of views and opinions of different sections of the society, especially of the poor and oppressed classes, the party said.
(Manas Dasgupta)