NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari does not agree that the Press Council of India lacks teeth, but has stressed that certain issues should be best left to self-regulation by the media bodies.

The Minister, who said the matter relating to paid news was pending before the Inter-Ministerial Committee of his Ministry, was reacting to demands by several members of Parliament over the issue of paid news and content shown on news channels.

"When some of our members were caught accepting money for asking questions during a sting operation, their membership was terminated. Their career was ruined. But no action has been taken after this sting operation. The licence of this channel should be cancelled," Lal Singh, a Congress MP said. He complained that news channels show objectionable content.

Speaking on the issue, Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said that when a demand was being made to bring even the Prime Minister under Lokpal, accountability of print and electronic media should be fixed and the Press Council of India be given more powers. ?Why have you kept such a creature (PCI) which has no teeth... A tiger (media) has been unleashed. The coal scam has been set aside... These channels are showing crude dances. Either give more teeth to PCI or close it down," Yadav said.

Tewari said the Zee TV issue was in court and therefore was sub judice.

NEW DELHI: The Government has reiterated that it has no proposal to allow telecast of mature content at late night hours on television channels.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told Parliament that there is no plan to change the Programme Code in this regard.

Tewari also clarified that the word ?unrestricted public exhibition? in Rule 6(1)(o) of the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994 will have the same meaning assigned to it in the Cinematograph Act 1952.

NEW DELHI: Information and broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari has said the Centre is keeping a watch on local news channels and monitoring their content to ascertain whether cable cartels are monopolising electronic media in some states, including Punjab.

?The masses have the right to see and read whatever they want. But we have received some complaints from Punjab and some other parts of the country alleging that viewers are being served only specific content. We are checking if a cable cartel is at work so that necessary action could be taken,? Tewari said during a reception accorded to him by the Ludhiana District Congress over the weekend following his appointment as Minister.

Tewari said, ?I have received complaints. The department is studying them. We are looking for the definition of local news and if needed will refer to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act as well. We will take suitable action against the channels, if they are found violating the norms.?

Sources said he was referring to the local PTC channel, in which Shiromani Akali Dal President and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is a major shareholder, though Tewari did not name the channel.

Lauding his predecessor, Ambika Soni, he said the digitalisation process she initiated had been successful and would soon be extended to other cities. This, he explained, would help in rationalisation of the process of disbursement of information.

He said there was need for an independent and strong media in a democracy. He said the freedom of expression guaranteed in the Indian constitution included freedom to choose media; whether print, electronic or digital.

The growth of media would lead to employment generation, which he had every intention of ensuring, he added. He assured that a level playing field would be provided to all players and said the achievements of the UPA government would be communicated to the people.