Sushma wants FTV to clothe its subjects

Sushma wants FTV to clothe its subjects
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

New Delhi, February 15: At least for one Member of Parliament who was present to share Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj’s concern over the ‘‘butt and cleavage contents’’ of Fashion Television (FTV), found viewing video clips supplied by the I&B Ministry an amusing and entertaining exercise. For another member (who wondered aloud about fashion in the absence of any dress or design on the channel) banning the ‘‘offensive channel’’ went against freedom of expression.

The 10-odd Consultative Committee Members of Parliament who met today, however, spoke in one voice, when they urged Swaraj to direct the channel owners to keep Indian sensibilities in mind before beaming fashionable programmes into India. Their verdict: The channel stays, but suitably clothed and draped.

Some of them did find the butt-show downright offensive/obscene and even distasteful. Others like Hanan Mollah of the CPM who felt that a ban would be improper, advocated moderation. ‘‘A committee should be formed, with representatives from the entertainment industry to evolve guidelines for entertainment,’’ Mollah said.Actress/activist/parliamentarian Shabana Azmi, who made a strong plea for freedom of expression, wanted the people of the country to choose what they wanted to see. But having said that she directed the I&B minister’s attention to some of the contents in Hindi cinema cleared by the Censor Board, that were far more offensive than the clips she was made to see today. ‘‘I said I find nothing offensive in the clips. Some of the songs in Hindi cinema are far more offensive in their contents,’’ Azmi said, adding she did strike the dissenting note in the august gathering.

It may be recalled that Swaraj had enlisted the services of the Central Monitoring Cell to record the programmes aired on FTV, to enable parliamentarians to pass their verdict on the channel.

The members also felt that the Geetakrishnan Committee report advocating closure of some of the wings of the I&B ministry, was not right. The members have urged the ministry to reorient and restructure the departments to make them worthy of government grand and aid.