CHANDIGARH, Dec 6: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is in the process of formulating a "broadcasting code" for television channels in order to prevent them from airing programmes which were either "vulgar or did not conform to the social and cultural ethos of the country."This was stated by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, at a discussion on "Media and social responsibility" held to observe Media Day at the DAV College auditorium in Sector 10, here today.Naqvi said that strict action would follow if the code was violated. He warned TV channels against "airing programmes that threatened the national character." Naqvi added that arrangements would be made to make sure that all programmes conformed to Indian culture.Commenting on the role of the media, he said, "though media influenced society tremendously, it was not playing this role with enough responsibility."Earlier, inaugurating the seminar, organised by the Vishva Samvad Samiti, Chandigarh, Punjab Minister for Local Government appealed to the media to adopt a constructive approach.While presiding over the seminar, Haryana Education Minister Ram Vilas Sharma said that excessive freedom to the press was causing a deterioration and had resulted in a decline in the faith reposed by the people in the media.
