Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday said television news channels are largely responsible for disturbing peace in society by telecasting news related to clothing, food habits and other emotive issues and urged the media houses to refrain from telecasting provocative statements of leaders.
Speaking on electoral reforms in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Kumaraswamy said TV news channels have been telecasting news related to boycott of halal meat products ahead of the Ugadi celebrations in Karnataka. After hijab row and opposition to Muslim traders setting up shops at temple fests, a few Hindu organisations have now given a call to Hindus not to purchase halal meat products, he said.
The JD(S) leader said news channels have been continuously telecasting such issues and making attempts to disturb peace in society for the sake of TRP (target rating point). Media houses have been demanding “packages” for publication of advertisements, he claimed.
Intervening during the debate, Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri said there was no point in blaming the media and told the JD(S) leader, “We should correct ourselves and take the right decisions”.
