Thursday, September 1 2005 16:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Making it clear that it was committed to freedom of the press, Government yesterday's (Aug 31, 2005) night said that it was up to the media to introspect and decide on having it own rules to cover incidents of communal violence.

"It is left to the media to introspect and decide on having its own rules.We leave it to the media," Home Minister Shivraj Patil told reporters after the day-long meeting of the National Integration Council (NIC) in New Delhi.

He was replying to a question whether there should be a code of conduct for the media for coverage of communal violence.

Patil said Government 'fully' stood for freedom of the press and had no desire to create any obstacles to the media.