New Delhi: Amidst complaints of "negative projection of women" on big and small screen, government on April 9 said it would not ban any television channel, tele- show or film.

Admitting that he had received several complaints regarding the "negative and obscene" projection of women in entertainment sector, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Ravi Shanker Prasad said, "I am not in banning business. I do not envisage government playing a role of a Censor Board. If the channel shows something alien to our culture then we will protest, which we have already done and they have reciprocated."

However, emphasising on the need for "self-regulation" at a seminar on "Women, Cinema and Society", Prasad said, "Members of civil society can have structured dialogue with the members of the Board and express their concern and there government will perform the role of a facilitator."

Stating that the government had no role to play in the decisions taken by the Censor Board, the Minister said, "We have appointed people representing different walks of life including two women members. Earlier, we had the power to review the decision of the Board, which was taken away and we are not interested in restoring this suo moto power."

Expressing displeasure over the idea of censorship, well-known actress Jaya Bachchan said viewers should be allowed to see everything and choose. "Guidelines of Censor Board are outdated and need to be updated. Government is not there to entertain, but to govern. Therefore, let the viewers decide what they want to see," she said.

PTI