TN Govt rules out nationalisation of Cable TV operation

Chennai, Apr 16 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu government today ruled out nationalisation of Cable TV operation, stating that the state government has no right to pass legislation to the effect.

Intervening the debate on the demand of grants for Revenue department, Electricity Ministr Arcot N Veerasamy said the state government could not decide on the issue as the matter was listed in the Union list and the power vested with the centre.

The centre had sent back a bill passed by the previous AIADMK government, seeking to take over the operation of Cable TV network in the state because the subject figured in the Union list, Mr Veerasamy said.

Denying opposition charge that the government was showing undue favouritism to Sun TV, a private satellite television channel, involved in Cable TV operation, he said the charge was baseless as majority of Cable TV operators in the state either belonged to the opposition AIADMK or other parties.

He said of the 27,000 Cable TV operators in the state, only four or five belonged to Sun TV group, while the others were either AIADMK functionaries or relatives of former Ministers or party functionaries.

Former AIADMK Minister S M Velusamy took objection when the Minister alleged that his relatives were also engaged in Cable TV operation in Mettur. He offered to resign his seat if the Minister proved the charge. However, Mr Veerasamy, after cross checking the list of names, said they were relatives of former AIADMK minister Semmalai.

More UNI