LS TV – RS TV merger: financial considerations or political reasons?

In March this year, the Government announced the merger of two of its public broadcasters: the Lok Sabha TV and the Rajya Sabha TV. The merger brought both these television channels under an umbrella channel – Sansad TV. The news of the merger gave rise to a lot of speculation. While the opposition was rattled by the move, the government cited financial reasons as one of many, for the decision to merge the channels.

The Probe deep-dived to find out if there was more to the merger than meets the eye. “Having a unified policy for one single parliament is a better methodology,” said BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi justifying the merger.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/619833994

An unscheduled meeting with the PM

Throughout the history of the twin channels, the Rajya Sabha TV has reported to the Chairman of the Upper House, currently, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. On the other hand, the Lok Sabha TV has reported to the Speaker of the Lower House, presently, Om Birla. The matter only gets more complex at the top level. For instance, when the Modi-led NDA government came to power in 2014, Rajya Sabha TV was still reporting to Congress-nominated leader Hamid Ansari, the then Vice President and the then Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Hamid Ansari’s book | The Probe

In his recent book, ‘By many a happy accident’, Hamid Ansari spoke about his unscheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he claims that the PM told him that Rajya Sabha TV was not favourable to the government. Now the question remains, have successive governments been playing power politics with the functioning of the television channels? Some of the ex-employees of Rajya Sabha TV agree.

“During Hamid Ansari’s time, they used to run stories favouring the Congress. When Venkaiah Naidu became the Chairman, they started playing stories favouring the NDA,” said Parveen Sharma, ex-Technical Executive at Rajya Sabha TV. Parveen had worked with the channel for five years before being sacked last year – along with thirty seven others.

“During Hamid Ansari’s time, they used to run stories favouring the Congress. When Venkaiah Naidu became the Chairman, they started playing stories favouring the NDA,” said Parveen Sharma, ex-Technical Executive at Rajya Sabha TV. Parveen had worked with the channel for five years before being sacked last year - along with thirty seven others.

Sacked Without Notice

While the politics at the top level continued and the veil was drawn in, a sudden decision in September last year shook the lives of dozens of employees who worked for Rajya Sabha TV. On September 30, 2020, thirty seven employees working for the Upper House’s channel were given the pink slip – without any warning or prior notice. “We had no clue even before an hour. By around 5.30 in the evening, we all got an email that said that we need not come to the office from tomorrow,” said Irfan, ex-Editor of Art & Culture Desk, Rajya Sabha TV.

“Government says they are providing service and jobs, and right under their authority, under the Parliament, which is such a revered house that enacts legislations and in their own TV channels, they are not following rules,” Parveen said. “I had a colleague who couldn’t get his child admitted in college due to the financial crisis.”

The employees were sacked in September despite the advisory issued by the Central Government just a few months ago that urged the employers of Public and Private establishments not to terminate their employees, particularly casual or contractual workers during the pandemic.

Satish Rawat, ex employee, Rajya Sabha TV | The Probe

The Probe spoke to more employees who were sacked by the channel last year. Satish Rawat, ex-Cameraman, says the termination shook his family. “We couldn’t understand anything. First of all, it was the time of the pandemic. There was an advisory from the government that you can’t terminate people during the pandemic. If it can happen in the parliament’s channel, the place where laws are made, then you can imagine the plight of others,” said Satish.

The Blame Game

“This is a very reckless decision. Playing with the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of employees. Why would anyone do this to block live coverage of both the houses simultaneously?” asked Pawan Khera, Spokesperson of Congress. On the other hand BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi spoke about how financial implications have been one of many reasons for the move. “One policy and methodology should go forward,” she added.

Manoj Jha, RJD MP said that the decision shall have further implications in terms of people losing their jobs. “If this is the case of Atmanirbhar Bharat, what Mr. Prime Minister has been talking about, I am worried about this very idea of Atmanirbhartha,” he said. “Snatching away jobs from people who were employed, tells you that this government is far away from the real life issues of the common people,” he further added.

In the meantime, while Sansad TV is all set to announce it’s mega launch soon, many serving employees of RS TV said that they too are reeling in fear of perhaps another such retrenchment exercise. The new management however, claims that they are going to revamp the existing structure and skill-up the current employees. We are told that the management has also reassured the employees that no more heads will roll but this only time can tell.