Despite being open to allowing FM channels to broadcast their own news, absence of a mechanism to monitor such news posed a great hurdle, the government said on Friday.
“We would like the FM stations to broadcast their own news. We are absolutely open to it,” Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said while replying to an oral question in the Lok Sabha.
However, he said the government would not like to allow FM channels to broadcast news without first putting down a monitoring system.
“In case there is any particular community or a group which is carrying out anti-national activity (through the FM channels), it would go unnoticed by the entire country,” he added.
The Minister was replying to a question from All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi, who wanted to know why private FM channels should not be allowed to broadcast their own news.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks