|
I&B minister
Sushma Swaraj, too, has got into the pro-active mode by invoking
special power under an Act to ban any cable projection, if it goes
against national interest.
With a specific reference to Section 20 of the Cable Television
Networks (Regulation) Act, Sushma has proposed to prevent the operation
of any cable television network "in public interest".
The order issued by her ministry made it clear that the Union government
had armed itself with power under the Act to stop any cable operation,
anywhere it felt necessary.
The Act, the
order affirmed, gave the authorities power to "regulate or
prohibit the transmission or re-transmission of any channel or programme,
by an order, where the Union government thinks it necessary or expedient
to do so in the interest of sovereignty or integrity of India."
The same power
could be invoked if the government felt that any cable operation
was affecting India’s "friendly relations" with another
country. Swaraj took a meeting of an inter-ministerial committee
to discuss the issue arising out of the situation following the
recent terrorist attack on Parliament.
The committee
set up in November comprises officers of the joint-secretary rank
from the ministries of I & B, home, external affairs, defence
and law.
The government intends to intervene in case inimical forces plan
to use the cable network for anti-India propaganda.
|
