Union Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal Reddy said on Wednesday that a national workshop would be held in New Delhi on July 5 to evolve a consensus on the issue of ban on scenes showing the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products in cinema and TV serials.
Reddy, who was here to release the compact discs (CDs) and audio cassettes on works of M S Subbulakshmi, Alathur Brothers and Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar at a function organised by the All India Radio (AIR), Chennai, as a part of its musical series Akashvani Sangeet, said old films and serials had been exempted from the ban. The ban would not apply to historical films and events and biographical works also, he added.
Speaking to the media at the Chennai airport, Reddy said the Centre was thinking of setting up a semi-regulatory authority to monitor the contents of television serials. The Group of Ministers would be empowered to take action against any objectionable scenes in TV serials,he said.
Reddy said the Left parties’ objections to disinvestment in profit-making public sector units like the BHEL and the recent hike in fuel prices would be addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
He stated that the fuel price hike was unavoidable and implemented after much consideration. He noted that in doing so, the government had spared kerosene and LPG from the price hike in the interests of the poor.
Reddy also said that even the previous NDA government had hiked fuel prices many times.
