Kerala advertisers criticise new policy of I&B Ministry

KOCHI: The Kerala Advertising Association criticised the new policy announced by Information and Broadcasting ministry that all Central Government and public sector undertaking advertisements should be released by DAVP and said the decision would affect the freedom of the Press.

"A media organisation or newspaper which criticises the government can be denied the advertisements," the Association secretary, Vinay Kumar, said in a statement here.

A similar move was attempted by the ministry two years ago but was opposed by all the other ministries especially the Finance, Communication, Petroleum, Railway and Industries ministries on the ground that this would deal a "major blow" to the image of PSU banks, PSU financial instititions, BSNL, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd, Bharat Heavy Electricals Indian Railways and many other public sector corporations, the statement said.