Mamata Banerjee plans to start state-run channel

Mamata Banerjee plans to start state-run channel

Mamata Banerjee

MUMBAI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee loves to be in news, for whatever reasons. After gaining intense criticism and negative publicity over several recent decisions, she is now planning to launch her own television channel and a newspaper.

Banerjee said today that she would start a television channel and a newspaper to disseminate correct information and publicise the activities and achievements of the government.

She said, "I have already told my ministers that I want to start a channel and a newspaper for the West Bengal government."

"No matter how many good deeds we do, they are not broadcast in the right way, instead are broadcast negatively... That is why I think we have to do something good ourselves and that is why we have taken the decision to show the work done in West Bengal...We need our own news channel and paper to inform the people," Banerjee said at a convention in Kolkata.

Last month, Banerjee had drawn criticism after her government came out with a list of newspapers to be kept at the state-run libraries, keeping out some prominent English dailies out of the list.

Last Thursday, she advised people in her state not to watch "some news channels"; they should instead watch entertainment channels. "Do not watch the two television channels that are spreading falsehood against us, watch Star Jalsa, Tara and Channel 10," she had said while addressing a government programme in North 24 Parganas.