Ambika Soni, I&B Minister, had a meeting with the stakeholders of the media industry on July 23 over the issue of objectionable content of various programs broadcasted on different channels.

Some MPs raised objections regarding content of recently launched reality show Sach Ka Saamna by Star Plus. They claim that unethical personal questions were asked by the participants before their family members.

MPs demanded that the show should be immediately taken off air as the show was against Indian culture and content of programs should be regulated.

The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry issued a show cause notice to Star Plus. The notice said that Star India allegedly violated a clause of the Content Code that deals with programmes that offend good taste. The channel was given time till 4 pm on July 27 to explain its position.

The meeting with television broadcasters was attended by heads of many popular TV channels including Jawahar Goel, president, IBF and managing director, Dish TV; G Krishnan, president, NBA and chief executive officer (CEO), TV Today; Uday Shankar, CEO, Star India; Chintamani Rao, CEO, Times Global Broadcasting and Rajdeep Sardesai, editor-in-chief, IBN Group.

Soni cleared that she had no intention of imposing any kind of censorship on the media. She presented the suggestion of independent quasi-government regulator including members from the broadcasting industry, film producers and production houses to regulate content.