Explain DD’s bias in news, EC tells Prasar Bharati

Sarma said the exact time allotted to political parties will be furnished to the Commission tomorrow. ‘‘As for specific charges, DD News and AIR had sought an appointment with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee. The interview with the PM was confirmed while the Congress will be responding shortly,’’ Sarma said.

Sarma also said that he told the Commission that the DD News channel, which is run by public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, maintains a detailed log-book on the news coverage allotted to the political parties as well as time allotted to the national parties.

Sarma said he will furnish all the details of the exact time allotted to political parties and, if the EC insists, will hold a press conference to state the actual position. In its complaint, the Congress alleged that DD News has not been airing news relating to the party’s campaign programme, while the ruling coalition has been manipulating the coverage of their poll campaign.

While the channel broadcast a live coverage of DPM L.K. Advani’s Bharat Uday Yatra, Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s roadshow was sidelined, the Congress alleged. On whether the Commission is likely to move court on the issue of exit polls as sought by the Congress and the CPI(M), Jha said: ‘‘It can be done only through a legislation’’.