Punjab Chief Minister captain Amarinder Singh today ruled out any censorship of cable TV but made it clear that action would be taken if there were tax related violations.
He also said that his government would extend all possible help to new channels or cable operators and also ensure that people get the choice they deserve and are not forced to consume biased coverage dished out by any one channel with monopolistic powers.
Reiterating his government's stand of providing a level-playing field to TV channels and cable operators and encouraging healthy competition, Singh said he would not indulge in vendetta politics.
The chief minister however added that he would ensure that whosoever is found guilty of tax violations or any other act against the law of the land is penalised.
"Let them all come and compete for the viewer's attention," he said in a statement here, adding that with a wider bouquet to choose from, the people would automatically reject any channel found to be engaged in biased dissemination of news or information.
He made it clear that ending monopolisation did not mean blocking or imposing censorship on any channel or shutting down the operations of any cable network.
It is in the interest of the people of Punjab to be exposed to multiple TV channels and they are mature enough to pick the most unbiased and neutral ones, he added.
The government, said the chief minister, would make sure the people get the choice they deserve and are not forced to consume biased coverage dished out by any one channel with monopolistic powers.
He added that his government would extend all possible help to any new channels or cable operators seeking to set up shop in Punjab.
Of course, if any channel or network is found to be indulging in illegal activities in defiance of the legal provisions, they would be brought to book, he warned.
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