NEW DELHI: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi on Thursday criticised the television channels on their reporting of the kissing incident involving actors Richard Gere and Shilpa Shetty, saying they were guided by purely commercial interests.

Addressing a workshop on "Gender Equality in Indian Media" organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, he said that in a mad race to increase their viewership, the channels repeatedly showed the footage of the kissing incident and even flashed it as "breaking news."

Lacks content

Suggesting that the channels lacked programme content, Mr. Dasmunsi said such issues were being blown out of proportion in a bid to fill space (air time).

"In a nation of over one billion, there are other things that could be highlighted," he said.

Later, speaking on the sidelines of the function, the Minister, however, said the Government did not want to put curbs on the channels.

On the contrary, he said the more independent the media be, stronger it would grow, which was good for a democratic country.

Mr. Dasmunsi said the Broadcast Bill was likely to be introduced in the next session of Parliament.

Equal representation

He also announced equal representation for women in news anchoring in Prasar Bharti panel from August 15 this year.

The Minister drew attention towards thecondition of women in television channels as their rights were not protected, particularly those from national and regional channels who got voucher payment.

Asking media to do some introspection, he said it was easy for them to write and talk about the wrongs of others but "the irony of the situation that they should first set their own house in order."

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