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There is no threat of war: Swaraj

Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Thursday that India was not heading for a war with Pakistan, despite the escalation in firing along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

Admitting that the talks between the Indian and Pakistan prime ministers at Colombo had "failed," she told mediapersons that the country was taking all ''necessary action'' to neutralise the Pakistani offensive.

The government was fully aware of the situation arising out of the sudden spurt in terrorist violence and increased intensity of firing by Pakistan, and was taking adequate measures to meet the challenge. However, this did not mean that ''we are heading for war,'' she said.

On media reports that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was ready to form a government if the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition falls, she quipped, ''As the leader of the Opposition, she (Sonia) cannot be stopped from dreaming.''

Swaraj, referring to her ministry, said as far as the print medium was concerned, no foreign equity would be allowed. The government was also thinking of making it mandatory for foreign satellite television channels to go in for uplinking from Indian territory.

The setting up of a broadcasting council on the pattern of the Press Council of India was also under consideration. The people could lodge complaints with the body if they found unnecessary violence or vulgarity in programmes and advertisements telecast by foreign channels, she said.

Asked if the broadcasting council could meet the objectives when the PCI has failed to discipline Indian newspapers, she said she had sought suggestions from the PCI chairman to amend the Press Council Act so that it could be provided with more teeth. The proposed broadcasting council would be equipped with such powers, she said.

UNI

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