Udhayanidhi Stalin Alleges Selective Blackout of Assembly Proceedings
Chennai: Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday accused the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government of blacking out assembly proceedings, alleging that the ruling party selectively released edited videos featuring only its own ministers. In a letter to Speaker J C D Prabhakar, he condemned the government for failing to telecast debates on the governor’s address live.
Udhayanidhi stated that the government had broken Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s promise to continue live telecasts. He pointed out that on the same day Minister Rajmohan hailed the resumption of live-streaming as a symbol of transparency and democracy, the feed was cut after discussions on a resolution opposing the proposed Mekedatu dam. The governor’s address debate was completely blacked out, he added.
Opposition Voices Suppressed, Says Udhayanidhi
Alleging discrimination, Udhayanidhi said, “Opposition members’ speeches were completely suppressed and only videos desired by the ruling party were published.” He questioned the TVK’s election promise of change, asking, “Is silencing the voices of legislators the change they promised people during the election?”
The former deputy CM also accused the government of curbing media access to assembly proceedings. “Refusing to provide information to the media and insisting that only government-approved content be broadcast are fascist tendencies,” he said.
Demand for Restoration of Live Telecasts
Seeking the Speaker’s intervention, Udhayanidhi urged him to restore live telecasts before Monday’s proceedings, when opposition leaders are scheduled to participate in the debate. “If assembly proceedings are not shown to the people, the very purpose of convening the house is defeated,” he said.
