TV channels sensationalising cricket: Shukla

New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) Two Members of Parliament were urged to move a Privilege Motion against Indian cricket coach Greg Chappell by newscasters of a private TV channel with the proviso that they be the first to be informed once the Motion had been admitted -- so that they could earn points on the ''Breaking News''.

This startling revelation was made here today by Rajya Sabha Member Rajeev Shukla -- who is also BCCI Vice President -- during the launch of a book 'Dressing Room - The Inside Story' by Abhishek Dubey.

Also, the TV news channels kept on harping daily that the Indian team's debacle during its recent South African tour figured constantly in Parliament as if the apex legislature had nothing else to do but discuss Cricket.

''Not a minute of Parliament's time was spent on the Tour...

whatever happened was outside its precincts'', Shukla said.

''The TV channels would accost MPs -- even those who had not even the basic knowledge of the game -- and put questions aimed at extracting some bytes... this had a very demoralising effect on the team...'' he said.

Expressing concern at the TV channels' attempt to ''create news rather than reporting the happenings'', Shukla wondered at the level of ignorance of the newscasters who wanted the TRPs of their channel to go up at any cost -- even that of credibility.

The electronic media, he said, was deep into sensationalising news and created ''a panic reaction'' at the drop of a hat while the print was more sober -- even though more harsh in its criticism of the authorities.

UNI