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Broadcast Bill may follow convergence law: Jaitley

The much-awaited Broadcasting Bill is likely to be cleared only after the government gives a final shape to a new Convergence Bill.

This was indicated by Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley while participating in Star TV's Janata ki Adalat on Sunday morning. He said the Broadcasting Bill was presently with the Group on Telecom Convergence and the government would be in a position to introduce it only after drafting the Convergence Law.

On a question about the delay in bringing the Broadcasting Bill, he said three different ministries -- information technology, telecommunications, and I&B -- were involved in the draft.

Jaitley, who also holds the divestment portfolio, admitted that the process of divestment had been slow due to lack of political will, but the present government was clear on this issue. He said it was necessary that the divestment process was understood in the right perspective and moved ahead. However, there was need to have a political consensus on it, he added.

"The divestment policy was on the National Democratic Alliance's Election Agenda... the Budgets presented by the finance minister clearly mention this. And we are unanimous that we have to go ahead with this policy. Divestment is a procedure by which these companies will be revived, the companies and jobs will be saved," the minister said.

While the question of divestment of Air-India shares was before the Cabinet, Jaitley disclosed that the government had not fixed any deadline for divestment of Indian Airlines and India Tourism Development Corporation shares.

UNI

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