Violation of privacy by news channel: AIDWA

The All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) has sought a probe and stringent action against those guilty of violation of right to privacy by a news channel in Raipur.

The channel aired a video of a senior government official and his wife in their bedroom and accused the official of producing and marketing blue films.

“Blackmail”

In a memorandum submitted to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni on Tuesday, the AIDWA sought her intervention to ensure that justice was done to the couple, who had been the victims of a “deliberate and illegal effort to blackmail and harass them.”

The incident pointed to a very dangerous attempt to use the electronic media as a means of exhortation and blackmail and his had to be checked immediately, the statement said.

It demanded exemplary punishment to all those guilty.

“Appropriate action should be taken against this kind of criminal violation of the self-regulatory code, and the licence of the channel which relayed the video should be cancelled,” said the statement signed by AIDWA general secretary Sudha Sundararaman.

“Additionally, we would like to point out that the incident underlines the misuse of the media that has been on the increase owing to the lack of a media regulatory code, and there is an urgent need to take forward the earlier initiative on this issue,” it said.

Quota for women

In another statement, the AIDWA welcomed the Cabinet decision to increase reservation for women in panchayats and urban local bodies to 50 per cent.

This would facilitate increased participation of women in decision-making.

However, to further strengthen the democratic process and enhance women's involvement in the highest decision-making bodies, this measure had to be followed up with passage of the Women's Reservation Bill, which had been pending before Parliament, the statement said.