OTV Facing Harassment Because Of Political Vendetta: Ram Madhav

Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader, Ram Madhav on Sunday slammed the vindictive action by Odisha police against OTV and its staff at the behest of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government in the State.

In a tweet, the senior BJP leader said, “Odisha government is doing OTV what Maharashtra did to Republic. Promoter of the channel and wife of BJP leader Baijayant Panda, Jagi Mangat Panda and her staff at OTV are facing harassment from police clearly because of political vendetta. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as a progressive leader should not allow this in his State.”

#Odisha Govt is doing to OTV what Maharashtra did to Republic. Promoter of d channel & wife of BJP leader Jay Panda, Jagi Panda & her staff at OTV r facing harassment from police due to political vendetta. CM Naveen shud not allow this in his state: Senior BJP Leader, Ram Madhav pic.twitter.com/dnozS0vICm

— OTV (@otvnews) November 22, 2020

The senior BJP leader’s statement assumes significance in the backdrop of the protracted targeted harassment of OTV, which its Managing Director Jagi Mangat Panda has been vehemently opposing at regular intervals.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Panda had stated that the leading channel in the State is being harassed with false cases as part of a conspiracy orchestrated at the behest of the 21-year-old ruling BJD government in Odisha because of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s personal vendetta.

Panda had even called for investigation into all allegations by a neutral national agency in the interest of propriety and fairness.

It is pertinent to mention here that a series of 20 false cases have been registered against OTV, its sister companies, employees and family members of Panda, including her 84-year-old father in the past two months.

These false cases run a gamut of criminal allegations, which runs entirely counter to OTV’s impeccable 23 year long track record of ethics and propriety, Panda said.

“We vehemently deny these allegations. There has been no wrongdoing by us and we are confident that this will ultimately be proved in the courts. We assert that these cases are being orchestrated by the 21-year-old BJD government in Odisha, because of CM Naveen Patnaik’s personal vendetta against us,” said Panda in the statement.

Meanwhile, Ram Madhav also urged the Odisha government to ensure that there is no political interference as Panda in her statement assured to fully cooperate in the investigations.

“Even they said in their statement that they will fully cooperate with d investigation. They should. I am sure your government will ensure that there is no political interference. We all have high opinion about HCM Naveen P. Hence hoping for fairness,” tweeted the senior BJP leader.

Amit Malviya, BJP IT cell head said Electronic media continues to face the brunt in opposition ruled states.

Electronic media continues to face the brunt in opposition ruled states. If it the Congress-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance in Maharashtra targeted Arnab and the Republic network, Odisha’s BJD is hounding OTV.

But Lutyens media, blinded by its ideological predilections, is silent... pic.twitter.com/FZEvFjs7tm

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) November 22, 2020

Also Read: Targeted Because of CM Naveen Patnaik’s Personal Vendetta: OTV MD