Dasmunsi scanner on more channels

After disciplining the foreign channel AXN, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi on Monday drew up a list of channels whose contents, according to Indian standards, are “obscene” and “objectionable”.

The Minister said he plans to implement the Cable Act and take stringent measures to enforce time scheduling for channels. He also said programmes with adult scenes showing women wearing objectionable clothes would be scheduled for late night viewing. “Those objecting to moral policing, can stay up till 5.30 am to watch these programmes,” he said. “I am obssessed with the issue. It cannot be allowed, even if I am being

called the moral police,” he answered to a journalist’s query.

Channels which do not adhere to the moral code, pollute Indian minds and “degrade women” would see “tough days ahead” he said. Dasmunsi affirmed that “action would be taken either before or during the Budget session”. He, however, refused to name the channels on the Ministry’s watchlist. “They either respond to our notice or face the consequences,” he said.

Apparently, it won’t be just television content but also media studies that will come under the Ministry’s scanner.