Cong for self-regulation by media: Singhvi

New Delhi, Oct 18: The Congress today said it favoured self- regulation by the media to avoid sting operations which endangered national security and privacy of individuals.

The government could consider a ''basic law'' to put necessary curbs on the media only if it was felt necessary at a later stage, Congress spokesman Abishek Singhvi told reporters.

He was responding to questions relating to Supreme Court observations that sting observations were not in public interest.

The spokesman, however, made it clear that the Congress did not think it necessary to react to the apex court's observations. If such remarks were incorporated in the operative portions of judgments, then the party would take a view, he said.

The proposed Broadcasting Service Regulation Bill, 2006, was aimed at ensuring a level playing field for both the visual and print media in the wake of globalisation and had nothing to do with sting operations, he said.

UNI