| However, what can give some margin of an escape route
to Iraani is the fact that it is not clear whether EC's diktat also
applies on private satellite channels, which may not have stopped
airing films and serials of those people who are contesting elections.
Pubcaster Doordarshan, of course, has stopped airing serials and films
of those persons who are fighting elections this time, including people
like Govinda and Dharmendra.
A resident of Chandni Chowk, Jai Prakash Aggarwal, formally lodged
a complaint with the EC that the serial featuring Smriti should
be stopped as it would mean using the medium of serial as a campaign
tool, which is against the poll code.
Asked whether Tulsi Virani would vanish from Kyunki Saas
Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi on Star Plus for the duration of the election
(till 13 May), Iraani said both she and the serial makers are law
abiding citizens and "would do nothing that goes against the
grain of democratic norms."
Still, taking a swipe at Sibal, Iraani said, "If I am an inconsequential
actor, as Mr. Sibal is describing me as, then why's he so afraid
of my TV appearance?"
Till the time of writing this report, EC had not taken a final
view on Agawam's complaint involving Iraani.
Making Tulsi vanish for a short duration should not be a problem
for Balaji telefilms, producers of the KSKBT. The scriptwriters
had done that earlier too when Smriti was pregnant and had to take
a short maternity sabbatical.
Incidentally, Dharmendra can be seen in an oil company's advertisement,
which is aired on some of the private satellite channels. Has EC
or anybody taken note of this fact too?
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