Citing the action taken by the Centre against "Live India" channel, former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitley on Wednesday demanded similar action against Tehelka newspaper, as both followed the same "methodology".
"Tehelka, like the 'Live India' incident, was based on pretension and fabrication. If the government can act against one sting operation then why not act against the other which started it all," she said in New Delhi on Wednesday.
In a sting operation masterminded by Tehelka in 2001, Jaitley was caught talking to reporters posing as defence dealers, and she allegedly mentioned some money to be given to a party functionary.
"My warning about the implications of sting operations has come true. The government has been forced to act. But why only in one case when both the sting operations were based on pretensions and fabrications," she said.
Last week, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry had ordered that 'Live India' channel be taken off air for a month for telecasting a fake sting operation involving a Delhi school teacher.
"I am not demanding any Broadcast Bill. I am in favour of a strict regulation for sting operations. Also, the power to do such hidden camera investigations should rest with the Central Bureau of Investigation," Jaitley added.