In a letter to the PM, Swamy urges him to restrain his ministers and officials from giving interviews to NDTV till it pays its dues or is exonerated

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give directions to Ministers and Government officials from going to the programmes of a “tax evader” & a company that is facing charges for money laundering – NDTV. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Swamy said doing so is improper and gives rise to a conflict of interest on the part of Ministers by patronising NDTV’s programmes, as they are faces a series of charges of cheating and frauds.

NDTV broadcasts show a systematic slant against the patriotic forces of India, and a sycophantic coverage of Western biases to rubbish Hindu culture.

“It may have been brought to your attention that the NDTV media house has been assessed by Income Tax Department to owe Government over Rs.864 crores ($135 million)[1]. It has also been held prima facie guilty of a number of frauds and of cheating. Also, NDTV broadcasts show a systematic slant against the patriotic forces of India, and a sycophantic coverage of Western biases to rubbish Hindu culture.

“In view of the frauds committed by NDTV it is improper and is a conflict of interest, for Ministers of our Governments. Income Tax and Central Excise & Customs officers to appear in interviews on this channel. I, therefore, request you to instruct your Ministers to stop patronising NDTV till the media house is exonerated of the grave charges or pay up their dues to the Government and the Income Tax,” said Swamy blaming top Finance Ministry officials frequenting NDTV studios, while the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax under the Ministry is prosecuting the TV channel.

Swamy’s complaint dated February 2 comes in the wake of top government officials including Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian and Niti Ayog CEO Amitabh Kant appearing in NDTV and giving so called “exclusive interviews” to the TV channel’s promoter Prannoy Roy[2], caught by CBI, ED and Income Tax for bank cheating, money laundering, tax evasion and frauds. More than that, Prannoy Roy and his wife Radhika Roy have been slapped with Rs.30 crores ($4.7 million) each by the Income Tax for failing to disclose their income.

Note:

1. The conversion rate used in this article is 1 USD = 64.15 Rupees.

References:

[1] The tax dues of NDTV are Rs.864 crores. ITD should attach the Bank accounts to recover the dues – Feb 2, 2018, PGurus.com

[2] Mr. Arvind Subramanian, why are you giving interviews to NDTV, which has committed financial frauds? – Jan 30, 2018, PGurus.com