Bhubaneswar: Ruling Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) move to boycott participation in all debate and discussion programmes of OTV drew criticism from several quarters today with senior journalists and political leaders condemning such decision.
Senior journalist Rajdeep Serdesai said, "No political party can decide what a channel will show. If a political party doesn't like the news shown in a particular channel then they should go to that channel and participate to put forth their views. I don't like the way the boycott decision was made in a press conference."
It is like putting pressure on media or a channel, but at the end of the day, it's the people who are going to decide whether they will watch the channel or not, he added.
"Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should close his eyes and think about his father Biju Patnaik to know tolerance is key of politics. Boycotting OTV will not solve any issue," said Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh.
"He should learn to tolerate even criticisms," Singh added.
"OTV is broadcasting news in its independent way. The channel will not shut down if BJD leaders boycott it," said former Union minister Braja Kishore Tripathy.
"The decision of the BJD is an attack on media, and it is sad and unfortunate," he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, BJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Pratap Deb in a press conference had alleged OTV of being impartial and was unduly targeting the ruling-party and the State government. He later announced his party's decision to not participate in any political debates and discussions of the channel.