News anchor Arnab Goswami’s new channel has hit a headwind with BJP leader Subramanian Swamy questioning the use of the name ‘Republic’ for the new venture.
In a letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Swamy said the use of certain names and emblems “are prohibited from being used under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 for professional and commercial purposes”.
He further said Item 6 in the Schedule accompanying the Act prohibits the use of “the name, emblem or official seal of the President, Governor, Sadar-i-Riyasat or Republic or Union of India.”
On November 1, Goswami had resigned as the editor-in-chief of Times Now.
Reports said that the venture, structured in two companies, ARG Outlier Media Ltd and SARG Media Holding Pvt Ltd, counts Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar as one of the main investors, through his company Asianet News Online Pvt Ltd.
Its other investors are Sameer and Sanjeev Manchanda and Tapesh Veerendra Singh of DEN Networks.
‘Republic’ is expected to go live before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.