Election Commission issues show cause notice to TV serials Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hain and Tujhse Hai Raabta for promoting Government schemes

By Vandana Srivastawa

on April 10, 2019

The first phase of General Elections 2019 is starting from tomorrow and the Election Commission is on an overdrive to ensure that modal code of conduct is followed by all parties. After putting a stop to the release of Vivek Oberoi starrer film PM Narendra Modi the body has now brought television serials under its scanner. It has issued a show cause notice to Zee TV and &TV for promoting government schemes on its popular shows like Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain and Tujhse Hai Raabta.

The EC rapped the TV channels for propagating the government schemes like Swacchh Bharat Abhiyaan, Mudra Loan and Ujjwala Scheme and took cognizance of a complaint filed by Congress on violation of model code of conduct. As reported by a leading daily, the producers of the serials are required to reply to the notice within a day after which further decision will be taken.

A leading daily quoted Congress spokersperson Sachin Sawant who said, “These episodes featuring praise for Modi and the schemes' advertisements were shown last week on TV. It was shocking and outrageous. How can the BJP use popular TV serials to campaign for its schemes? This is just like paid news. While watching the serial, voters are not aware that this is a campaign for the BJP government. The party has resorted to such tactics because it is worried about defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.” A social media user also voiced this opinion.

Yesterday i realized Modi has found another venue to advertise himself. i watch "Bhabhi ji ghar par hain" (that's right, deal with it), this TV serial has started to use some not so subtle Product placement/advertisement recently, but yesterday something else happened
...1/n pic.twitter.com/hClL6PErvF

— Victim (Heath Ledger) Goberoi (@VictimGames) April 6, 2019

A spokesperson of Zee Group told the daily, “As a responsible national television network, ZEE has always created content basis its stringent content guidelines. The mention of certain government schemes and initiatives in some of the episodes of the television shows was a creative call taken purely in the interest of the public.” However, there has been no response from the channel after the show cause notice was issued by the Election Commission.

(Source: Asian Age Mumbai Mirror)