New Delhi, January 14
With news channel editors coming together to seek withdrawal of the government's proposal to restrain media from covering incidents like the Mumbai terror strikes, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured them that the matter would be finalised only after the “widest possible consultation”.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) today said Singh had received several representations from the media agencies regarding certain proposed changes in the Cable Television Network Rules.
“He has assured that the matter will be taken up for finalisation only after the widest possible consultation with all the stakeholders and eliciting their different points of view on the proposed changes,’’ the PMO said.
The government’s clarification in the matter came a day after news channel editors unanimously sought withdrawal of the government's proposal to form a media consultative committee to regulate the release of footage of emergency situations to all the channels, saying any such step would be against the principles of free media.
The editors held a meeting here yesterday to discuss the government's proposed move to amend the act. All major media bodies, including the Editors Guild of India, jointly opposed the government's move and sought an appointment with the Prime Minister, who also holds charge of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, meanwhile, sent a letter to the Prime Minister seeking the establishment of an independent regulatory body to monitor television news channels.
