Minister KB Ganesh Kumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Minister KB Ganesh Kumar has dismissed the allegation that the Association of Malayalam Television Media Artists (ATMA), of which he is the president, has banned film artistes from acting in serials. Ganesh told the media on Tuesday that he had no knowledge of any actors being denied opportunities. “We have not banned anyone. It is the television channels that decide who will act in serials,” he said.

Ganesh also downplayed the statements recorded in the Hema committee report on casting couch and said it was heard in the old days too. “No one approached me with a petition. If someone had come forward, I would have intervened,” he said.

He also criticized the media for quoting a section of the report on sexual exploitation. “The Minister of Culture has already said that the government would take necessary measures based on the recommendations in the report. The non-availability of urinals is a serious problem. The producers’ association should take measures to make such facilities available,” he added.