Let TV channels be the forum for rallies

It is indeed regrettable that even Prime Minister and state Chief Ministers apart from ministers getting salaries through public-exchequers have to waste huge precious time in election-rallies because of unholy political culture of mega-budgeted and unproductive political rallies. India should adopt healthy democratic culture of USA where live TV debates between prominent leaders and prime-ministerial or chief ministerial candidates are usual feature.

There are candidates who contest elections only for exhibiting their richness through competitive most expensive election-rallies even though very well knowing that they are going to lose even security-deposits. There is unnecessary diversification of public-resources in security required for political rallies. There is burnt of precious fuel coupled with usual allegations of collecting crowd misusing government-resources by political rulers to exhibit successful rallies. There should be a complete ban on election-rallies.

However private TV channels and radio-network apart from national electronic media can be directed to accept advertisements from recognised political parties at subsidised rates abolishing free radio and TV timings at Akashwani and Doordarshan to recognised political parties.

- Subhash Chandra Agrawal, Delhi