News from Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network—Mumbai (RD/CN)

Mumbai, Jan 19: A delegation of journalists from the electronic media led by Television Journalists’ Association (TVJA) president Ravindra Ambekar, met Governor S C Jamir at Raj Bhavan to express their opposition to the proposed move to bring in restrictions on the coverage of sensitive issues by the media.

The delegation urged the Governor to convey their sentiments to President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
 
The delegation said that the move by the union government to amend the Cable and TV Network Act would be ‘a throwback to the dark days of the Emergency’. They told the Governor that the provisions would subjugate the media to government control.
 
“The proposed amendment if passed, will empower the district magistrates, sub- divisional magistrate and even the police to block transmission by any channel resulting in suppression and regulation,” said a member of the delegation.
 
Speaking on the occasion, TVJA working committee member Kamlesh Sutar said that the existing laws gave the government sufficient powers to legally act against channels that violate the terms of the licensing agreements, and hence, the proposed amendments were unnecessary.
 
Governor Jamir assured the delegation that he would convey their sentiments to the union government.
 
Manoj Bhoyar (Sahara), Pramod Chunchuwar (Saam Marathi), Ganesh Kanatake (TV9), Sanjay Prabhakar (Voice of India), Shashikant Sandbhor (Voice of India), Subhash Shirke (IBN Lokmat), and others were present on the occasion.