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During a meeting with journalists today, Swaraj said she would
have taken the Star proposal, now known as the uplinking case in
the government, to the Cabinet even if all the other ministries
concerned had not sent in their comments as it has already taken
too long. "But now the responsibility of doing so rests on the new
minister and may be he wants to have a look at the files before
acting on the issue," she added.
Government sources have indicated that the chances of Star News
proposal being taken to the Cabinet tomorrow are remote as the new
minister of state for I&B, Ravi Shankar Prasad, is slated to take
charge at the information and broadcasting ministry only tomorrow.
Asked what was the line of thinking of the ministries which have
sent their feedback on the Star News matter, Swaraj said such things
could not be discussed in public and is meant for the "Cabinet's
consideration."
Further queried, on her personal views or the I&B ministry's views
on the isue, she said, "My personal views are only for the Cabinet."
Though, according to some government sources, divergent views are
coming on the issue. It is believed that the telecom ministry has
suggested that in the news category in the electronic medium, foreign
investment should be capped at 26 per cent at par with the norms
for the print medium.
Star News Broadcasting, a Virgin Island-registered company, had
applied to the Indian government seeking permission to uplink from
India content meant to be aired on Star News channel, the full editorial
control of which is also being taken over by Star from 31 March.
After the application was made in the second half of 2002, critics
had said though within the parameters of existing inadequate laws,
Star News' proposal would amount to 100 per cent FDI in news category
in the electronic medium.
Swaraj then had said that since Star News, a news channel primarily
meant for the Indian audeinces, case was a first of its kind - unlike
BBC World or CNN - she would like to have "collective guidance"
on the issue. The I&B ministry late last year had also circulated
a draft Cabinet note on the issue to the ministries of finance,
law & justice, IT & telecom, home affairs, defence and the Planning
Commission, apart from the Prime Minister's Office.
COMMENTS FROM HOME AFFAIRS AWAITED ON DTH:
Asked about the status of DTH applications, Swaraj said that comments
from home ministry and finance are awaited on the two applications
in DTH.
The two companies that had applied for DTH licence are Space TV
(an Star affiliate) and the Subhash Chandra-promoted ASC Enterprises
Ltd, which is implementing India's first private sector Agrani satellite
project.
BROADCASTING BILL & FDI IN NEWS AGENCY:
Swaraj said that work is almost complete on the broadcast bill that
seeks to monitor content on television, ahead of the formation of
the Communication Commissiopn of India (CCI) as envisaged in the
Communication Convergence Bill where about 70-odd amendments have
been sought by an expert panel of Parliament.
"Our aim was to introduce the Broadcast Bill in the budget session
of Parliament and I hope it is done and passed," Swaraj said.
On the issue of FDI in news agencies, she said a 1956 cabinet resolution
on this matter, barring foreign investment in news agencies like
the UNI and PTI, is being looked into and only after a debate could
any decision be taken.
The government, however, has reviewed a Cabinet resolution of 1955
on foreign investment in the oprint medium and last year came up
with a new policy and norms allowing FDI with riders.
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