After porngate, K'taka may ban private channels in House

Embarrassed over the porngate scandal in the Assembly, the Karnataka government on Thursday did not rule out banning private television cameras inside the House saying the presiding officers want to emulate Parliament's media policy.

Karnataka Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda, however, said the government would not restrain the media from entering or covering the Assembly and the Council. "I do not want to make any comments on this. We never wanted to invade the individuality of the media. We are thinking on the lines of Parliamentary system (where private television channel cameras are not allowed)," he told the media at the Karnataka Bhawan.

Gowda cancelled a scheduled press conference at the last minute and no reason was given by the Karnataka government officials for the change. He also said the proposal to ban private television channels from covering the proceedings was "not new" and now the speaker and chairman have decided to take it up.

"The speaker and chairman will visit Parliament, they will take the opinion of several people. Things will take its own time. But media will not be restrained from entering the Assembly," he said.

His comments came in the wake of the Congress opposing the proposed move, saying it would be reflective of the "fascist" attitude of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"If there is a knee-jerk reaction by the BJP...shooting the messenger rather than reading the message...it is not surprising as it is guiding principle of their conduct all through," party spokesman Manish Tewari had said.

Three ministers had to quit the Karnataka cabinet on February 8, a day after they were caught watching porn clippings in the assembly.