Flying squads to monitor news conferences in Ponda
THE GOAN NETWORK
PONDA
In a bid to clamp down on efforts to influence the media to report in favour of some politicians in Ponda taluka, election officials have begun to depute flying squads at the venues.
Taking cognisance of a request from a journalist, the Election Commission on Tuesday sent a flying squad to monitor a news conference in Ponda.
According to sources, the journalist had requested Chief Electoral Officer Kunal to send a flying squad at news conferences, following attempts by politicians and their supporters to hand over envelops to some journalists after the news conferences.
On Tuesday, supporters of a politician became nervous on seeing a flying squad at the venue. But when the same journalist informed a prominent supporter that a request had been made to the CEO to send flying squads to monitor news conferences, he welcomed the CEO's decision.
“If this is the case, then the flying squad should keep a watch on such activities. We have no problem if they visit again,” the politician’s supporter told The Goan.
According to the EC office, one journalist had sent an email to inform all officers about ongoing efforts by politicians to influence some journalists in Ponda.
Speaking to The Goan, CEO Kunal said, “The Election Commission will always act if there is any complaint regarding the elections.”
Ponda's Returning Officer Navnath Naik told The Goan that they would continue to monitor news conferences, so that politicians and their supporters are unable to lure any member of the media.
“Our flying squad had gone to the venue of a news conference in Ponda,” Naik said.
