GURDASPUR: District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Gurdaspur Mr. Mohammad Ishfaq said that candidates for electronics media (including online paper, radio, TV, cinema hall and social media and bulk / voice messages on mobile) Pre-certification from district level MCMC is mandatory for a cell in this regard has been set up at District Administrative Complex, Gurdaspur, Block-A, 2nd Floor, Room No. 314.
The Deputy Commissioner also appealed to the cable operators of the district to get a copy of such approval from any political party / candidate before running a political advertisement.
He sought the cooperation of representatives of political parties and the media to curb the negative trend of paid news. He said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had made a concerted effort to curb the media coverage of money laundering.
He said that Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) has been constituted at the district level. Notice will be issued to the concerned candidate / party immediately upon receipt of suspicious 'paid news'. The candidate has to reply within 48 hours after receiving the notice from the Returning Officer. In case of non-response, it will be treated as paid news, after which the cost will be credited to the candidate's account and the Election Commission will be informed for further action.