Dasmunsi not happy with TV content

Information and Broadcasting Minister PR Dasmunsi on Thursday expressed concern over increasing trend of objectionable visuals on television including MMS clips and suggestive advertisements.

Addressing students at the 41st convocation of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication here, Dasmunsi said that though he believes in free media, “freedom demands responsibility”.

“But unfortunately with the growing competition among media companies, unhealthy competition is threatening all journalistic norms and values,” he added.

The minister had aired his views at the time television channels are the receiving end for alleged character assassination of Aarushi Talwar, the victim in twin-murder case of Noida. The ministry has already issued a notice to a new channel for broadcasting a clip said to be Aarushi following a complaint from a civil society group.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights had even issued a notice to a production house, Balaji Telefilms, for claiming that an episode in its popular series Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki would be inspired from Aarushi life as portrayed by the police.

The minister said that it was a matter of serious concern that the ministry was receiving many complaints from the general public and concerned citizen groups against television channels.

“There are numerous instances of media excesses and media trials, fake sting operations, criminal trespassing of privacy, promotion of hatred among communities. This is a very dangerous trend not only for the media but for democracy and humanity,” he said.