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EC bars new proposals but allows VSNL divestment

The Election Commission has restrained the central government from going ahead with three major policy decisions including the raising of a National Reconstruction Corps, since the model code of conduct is in force.

However, the Commission allowed a Union finance ministry proposal for the divestment of the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd equity by retail offering of one million shares in the domestic market.

The Commission also told the Union information and broadcasting ministry to put on hold its proposal to grant Doordarshan a licence for the exclusive operation of direct-to-home for five years and to amend though an ordinance the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995

Describing these as major policy decisions, the Commission said these should await the completion of the election process and could be taken up by the new government.

The EC felt that that DTH being a matter of vital importance in the media policy of the government, the right forum for a thorough debate and an appropriate decision would be Parliament.

The NRC, to be established by funds from the Contingency Fund of India, would have created jobs for some 8000 volunteers and an additional 800 co-ordinators. The EC felt this ''would not be in order'' at this juncture.

The Commission also noted that major national parties had voiced "strong reservations" about the promulgation of ordinances when the country was in the election mode.

Meanwhile, the ban on PTV would be lifted soon, Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan has said. ''It is not the intention of the government, to act as a censor at all times," Mahajan told Star News channel. He, however, said PTV had added to communal tensions and aired 'absurd' points of view during the Kargil conflict.

UNI

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