Press Release
Following is the text of the letter addressed by CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the proposals to amend the Cable Television (Regulation) Rules.
This is being released for publication
For CPI(M) Central Committee Office
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January 14, 2009
Dear Dr. Manmohan Singh,
It is reported that the government is proposing an amendment to the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Rules. This is meant to regulate content in the electronic media.
Our Party is of the opinion that there should be no hasty step taken regarding media regulation. Our Party is of the view that apart from the self-regulatory mechanism put in place by the news channels, it is necessary to have co-regulation through an independent regulatory body.
How this is to be done has to be discussed and a common approach arrived at. Till then, no steps should be taken to empower the government and the administration to further regulate the news channels.
With regards,
Yours sincerely
(Prakash Karat)
General Secretary
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister
Government of India