Delhi govt to closely monitor content of all news channels

The Delhi government has decided to closely monitor the content on all news channels. The move comes just days after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the media of taking "supari to finish" the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

On Tuesday, Kejriwal asked the media to spare the wives and children of party leaders while commenting on the controversy surrounding AAP leader Kumar Vishwas, who has been accused by a party volunteer of not rebutting rumours of an illicit relationship with her.

An order has been issued to the Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP) to monitor all the news channels from 9 am to 11 pm and prepare a daily report.

"DIP officials have been asked to start monitoring the content of news channels related to the government and send a daily report on these contents broadcast by them to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO)," a top government official said.

The DIP till now used to only keep records of newspaper cuttings related to the government.

"The DIP used to keep a record of newspaper reports related to the government, but now news channels, too, will be monitored," an official said.

Expressing anguish over the media purportedly dragging the families of the party leaders in the public domain, Kejriwal said the media should not single out children and wives of party leaders.

"Is this journalism? Your fight is with us. Please spare our wives and children. How long we will continue to give explanations?" he said.

Defending Vishwas, Kejriwal said, "Everyone is saying there is no illicit relationship. Both of them (Vishwas and the woman) are saying there is no illicit relationship, but still channels are running all sorts of things. Even Kumar's daughter is unable to attend school as she is facing questions there. The whole family has gone into depression," he said.

Kejriwal's comments came in the wake of a complaint by a woman party volunteer who accused Vishwas of not rebutting rumours about an illicit affair with her following which he and his wife were issued summons by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW).

"Spme media houses are maligning our party's image day and night in the past few months. I am deeply hurt. So, we have decided to go silent. We will answer questions only on the government and the work being done by us. I have no replies to other questions," the Delhi CM said.