Lok Sabha members on Thursday expressed concern over the media focussing on sensational issues and ignoring important debates and proceedings in Parliament.

They felt Parliament coverage in the media was 'limited', and regretted that reports about boycott and hold-ups in Parliament were given priority.

They lamented that important debates like the one on creating social awareness on female foeticide were ignored, while the offer of a rapist to marry the victim was being front-paged.

The issue was raised by Communist Party of India member Gurudas Dasgupta, who acknowedged that it was the right of the media to make its own choice of news, but was appealing to its conscience for 'introspection'.

He was supported by other members, Hannan Mollah and Tarit Baran Topdar (both Communist Party of India-Marxist), D P Yadav (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Sandeep Dikshit (Congress) and Mohan Singh (Samajwadi Party).

Responding to their remarks, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said the press was playing a glorious role and it was up to it to make its own choice on news.

Apparently not happy with the current turmoil and boycott in Parliament, he said, "We too have to introspect. This is a very sensitive matter."