NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Wednesday barred the release of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s biopic and also ordered a ban on NaMo TV till the Lok Sabha elections conclude, saying that any material which disturbs a level playing field should not be displayed.
In the afternoon, the EC has banned the release of the Modi biopic, saying any such film that subserves purpose of any political entity or individual should not be displayed in the electronic media. Later in the evening, an EC official said the order banning the screening of the biopic also applies to NaMo TV, which also cannot be aired during the poll period, a senior official of the poll panel said on Wednesday.
The channel carries the picture of Modi on its logo. It was launched on March 31, nearly two weeks after the Model Code of Conduct came into effect and ahead of the Lok Sabha polls beginning April 11. The channel, available on various DTH and cable TV platforms, broadcast election rallies, speeches of the prime minister and interviews of BJP leaders.
The official referred to a paragraph in the order which said,”that any poster or publicity material concerning any such certified content, which either depicts a candidate (including prospective) for the furtherance (or purported to further) of electoral prospects, directly or indirectly, shall not be put on display in electronic media in the area where MCC is in force.”
Last week, the EC had issued a notice seeking a report from the I&B Ministry on NaMo TV after opposition parties, including the Congress, asked the poll body to direct the ministry to suspend the channel as it was violative of the Model Code of Conduct.
Global News 
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