Withdraw TV channels license involved in paid news: Jindal

A strong demand for cancellation of licences of those TV channels which are in the "business of extortion" was made

A strong demand for cancellation of licences of those TV channels which are in the "business of extortion" by giving 'paid news' was made by a Congress member in the Lok Sabha today.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Navin Jindal said that licence of running a TV channel was being used by some as "licence for extortion" and sought that licences of channels, who make its wrong use, should be withdrawn.

The industrialist-politician, who is involved in a dispute with a TV channel for alleged attempted extortion, said the Information and Broadcasting Ministry had set up an inter-ministerial committee over a year back on the issue.

However, no action seems to have been taken in this regard even after the passage of a year, he said.

"Such media has been playing with our honour and prestige even when there is an abundance of proof against them," Jindal said, while demanding that the licences of such channels should be cancelled.

He said even the police issue gun licences with strict conditionalities and withdraw them when these conditions are violated.

Several members were seen thumping desks when Jindal made the submission, while some of them complimented him.