Govt tells TV channels not to add fuel to Rajasthan fire

New Delhi, June 4 (UNI) TV channels repeatedly telecasting footage of the ongoing caste violence in Rajasthan and other states were today told by the Government to show restraint.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting summoned the heads of major broadcasters and expressed concern over their conduct, which it said was amounting to adding fuel to the fire in Rajasthan.

Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters here that the situation in Rajasthan was very grave and it was the duty of the media to play a responsible role in reporting such events.

He said he appealed to all the channels to understand the sensitivity of the situation.

''I have myself seen that while five days old clashes were being shown throughout the day, efforts for peace being made from both sides were hardly being given ten seconds coverage, which was not fair. During today's meeting some of the TV channels' representatives accepted imbalances in the coverage of the situation in Rajasthan,'' he said.

Mr Dasmunsi said the Government had no intention in interfering in the functioning of TV channels, and if some violence happens it has to be reported. However, showing the same incident over and over again for weeks could not be justified in the name of freedom of the media.

''In Rajasthan, all want peace. It is an issue that has raised nationwide cutting across partylines. All want peace to return to the state, and the media should be a partner in this effort. It should play the same positive role it has played during the Mumbai train blasts and Samjhauta Express blasts,'' he said.

UNI