Govt to take action against sting operation for business: Munsi

New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) Describing 'sting operations' as a ''lucrative business venture,'' Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi announced that his ministry would take action against a TV channel today itself for showing Ministers' and MPs' official residences being rented out to servants and others.

Commenting caustically on the private TV channels' sting operations, he said ''ye do paise mei reporter rakhte hai, chaar paise ka kaam karate hai aur aath paise mei story bech dete hain (They recruit a reporter for a sting operation for two paise, get work of four paise from him/her and then sell the material off for eight paise to a channel for telecast)''.

The whole operation is meant to increase the TV Programme ratings (TRPs) to enhance the channel's business, he added.

Mr Dasmunsi was responding to Santosh Gangwar (BJP), who raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, asking whether those who conducted the sting operation in the residences of MPs and Ministers had taken the permission from the House.

''Whatever was shown by a TV channel yesterday, has lowered the prestige of the sovereign Parliament and belittled the elected representatives in the eyes of the people,'' Mr Gangwar added.

A private TV channel yesterday showed occupants of the servant quarters' of some MPs and Ministers residences, admitting that they were paying monthly rent ranging from Rs 1500 to Rs 2500.

Refering to yesterday's and earlier sting operations against MPs, Mr Munsi said these private channels were more interested in sensationalism and fooling the people in believing what they telecast.

However, the Minister did not reveal what action his Ministry was going to undertake, but assured the House that ''by this afternoon something will come against such harikiri.'' UNI JSS VD HS1302