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"I DO NOT BELIEVE
IN CONTROL AND AM ALL FOR FREEDOM"
The 47-year-old minister of state
for information and broadcasting, Arun Jaitley, may
be a first timer, but he has an advantage: that of being
a seasoned lawyer. And like good lawyers, he grasps
issues fast. Moreover, Jaitley has been the counsel
for some media companies in the past and is aware of
the various issues related to media, especially broadcasting.
Though he has been a high-profile spokesperson for the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), hopping from studio to
studio, programme to programme espousing the cause of
his party, he maintains that unlike his ministry he
wants to keep a low profile. In fact on day one of taking
charge of his portfolio he dismissed any suggestions
from DD staffers to get him on camera and on the state-owned
network to broadcast his views.
But he took some time out to speak to
some journalists the next day and the The Indian Cab&Sat
Reporter's M. Anuradha airing his views on various
issues relating to Indian broadcasting. Excerpts:
On enacting a broadcasting law.
As far as the broadcast bill is concerned we have
a situation where a large segment (of an industry) is
functioning without a regulatory mechanism. But this
needs to be corrected, as technology is changing very
fast and we too have to act fast. Though I am not in
favour of government control, getting a regulatory mechanism
in place is a high priority area. But fortunately here
we do not have many channels, which need to be checked
or censored.
We'll have to arrive at some viewpoints on these issues.
The country cannot go on without having a regulatory
mechanism for broadcasting. To me, it's like having
companies without having the Securities and Exchanges
Board of India (the stock market regulator). On the
other hand, we did not allow uplinking from India earlier
and the broadcasters set up base outside to beam into
India. What has been the result ? We could have earned
foreign exchange which has not come. This needs to be
corrected.
On the Cable TV Network Regulation Act.
That will certainly need a re-look and I am attempting
to study the issue. Technology is changing very fast
and unless we act fast things will overtake us. The
issue of downlinking has to be addressed too.
On KU-band DTH and first allowing
Doordarshan in this arena.
The issue has been pending for quite some time. Things
had been discussed by the group of ministers set up
by the Prime Minister to study the issue. But I cannot
say at this point of time what this government's stand
would be on DTH. Let's see.
On foreign wire agencies and foreign
newspapers' operations in India.
That has been pending a decision for quite sometime
now. So far no concrete decision has been taken on allowing
foreign wire agencies or print medium to operate independently
in India. We still follow the cabinet note of the mid-50s
which bars any such direct activities.
On Prasar Bharati (Doordarshan and
All India Radio) and its fate.
I do not believe in control and am for freedom, but
the cornerstone (in Prasar Bharati) will have to be
credibility and accountability of those who manage it.
I do have some ideas on how to go about it, but it will
take some time. The matter needs more detailed examination.
On his predecessor, Pramod Mahajan's
comments that PB should be disbanded as the government
control is necessary because of funding.
Autonomy with accountability was Pramodji's view and
it is a plausible viewpoint. There is a point when it
is suggested that autonomy was demanded for DD and AIR
at a time when there was a monopoly. But now there are
various other platforms available and the government
too needs a medium to spread its social messages. There
is also a case that how can the government let go of
an organisation which is mainly funded by the government.
These issues have to be studied in detail.
Still, I believe there must be an attempt at an harmonious
existence. I will meet the Prasar Bharati board members
and discuss with them the issues, which need to be addressed.
On the I&B ministry addressing issues
like convergence.
I'd like to examine that too. The issue of the Internet,
bandwidth, frequency allocation, etc. However, all this
will come under the Information and technology ministry,
which is being formed.
On the ban on distributing Pak TV
in India.
That's an issue which has to be reviewed. The ban was
put in place because of certain conditions prevailing
at certain time (Kargil conflict with Pakistan). But
the decision will be reviewed.
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