By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR/KENDRAPARA: The BJD Lok Sabha MP from Odisha’s Kendrapara district has stepped up his attack on BJP National VP-Spokesperson and former MP Baijayant’Jay’ Panda and his wife , model turn entrepreneur, Jagi Mangat Panda run Odia TV Channel, OTV.
The MP Mohanty after sending a legal notice to OTV and Jagi Panda, was on Monday issued a press statement in his official pad , in which he accused the TV Channel and its owners following yellow journalism.The Kendrapara MP in his press statement however claimed that OTV running “regular and unwanted news items on him since years.
MP Mohanty , who is also National Spokesperson of the BJD, said, “OTV has compromised the ideals of journalism long ago. Having run regular and unvetted pieces on me since years, OTV has been reduced to a mere propaganda channel only to fulfil B.Panda’s dirty political agendas. It’s high time they were taken to the cleaners the legal way.”
MP Mohanty accused the OTV of engaging in a witch-hunt against him, which he called “unfair and downright unprofessional”. The MP said that he was initiating legal proceedings under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code to “make the Channel answer for their mistakes”. He accused them of airing an unverified clip that supposedly throws doctors into the “crossfire”.
, “I understand the need to mimic one’s master’s knack for running unchecked propaganda, but here’s a reminder- this is ODISHA. If you want an indication of what happens to people who- mess with ODIAS- ask your friend who visited our Konark Temple,” the MP added.
“I have served legal notice via my Lawyer Ashwani Dubey for CRIMINAL DEFAMATION against #Odishatv (OTV) & it’s MD #JagiMangatPanda for wilfully, deliberately, maliciously defaming me on false grounds & for running vague stories to fulfill the B. PANDA’s dirty political agendas,” the Lok Sabha MP had said earllier.
Mohanty had earlier alleged that the personal and political agenda of the media house, damaged Odisha’s development.“I know that few might not agree with me but trust me please, I’m honest. This OTV is deeply responsible for the delay in our motherland’s actual development only because of personal political dreams and personal political agenda,” Kendrapara MP, Mohanty had written in a Facebook post.
The MP Mohanty further went on to added in his social media post “I was someone who had an habit of asking hoteliers whether they have the facility of providing OTV channel in their rooms or not. Have paid extra several times to see the news by this particular channel. But later I realised extreme strongly that this is the worst channel ever in our motherland Odisha,”.
“I feel ashamed that in past I have even worked with them. I’m a responsible youth leader and I can never ever dare to mislead my youth of Odisha. I just want to say them with every sincerity, love and honesty, let us all take an oath of banning this anti-Odisha News channel,” the BJD MP Mohanty wrote.
It may be noted that OTV had posted the audio clip of two persons in conversation with each other on COVID mismanagement on August 6. However, the BMC authorities refuted the claims and later issued a show-cause notice to OTV. The BMC had also filed a police complaint in this connection and 2 employees of Ortel were arrested and later released on bail.
