Big B denies controlling coverage of grandchild's birth

New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he has no intention of controlling the electronic media coverage of his grandchild's birth.

His daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai is expected to deliver a baby in mid-November.

Responding to a report that said he approached the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) to ban TV channels from placing reporters and cameras outside the hospital, Bachchan tweeted: 'I&B and media matter! Firstly, I have no such intention ever, secondly do you really think I&B would listen to me!?? No way baby.

Big B, who was also informed of the development through a message from a senior journalist, took to his blog to clarify that he had no role to play in moving these guidelines.

He wrote Monday night: '...this afternoon a print media sent a message - 'have you told the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to stop OB Vans from being anywhere near your house and hospital during the delivery of the baby.'

'This was of course not true and a lot of nonsense, so I put the PR agency to look after the matter. They came back with the response that they contacted the journalist and told them that the news was wrong and refuted it on my behalf, but also told me that apparently there is news that the I&B Ministry has passed an order stating that the dignity of a patient should be respected and that the placing of OB Vans outside hospitals be not allowed.'

A media report said that the Broadcast Editors Association (BEA) has issued a 10-point advisory to its members on how to cover the birth of Bachchan's grandchild.

Be it Amitabh's son Abhishek's wedding, Aishwarya's baby shower, Karva Chauth or Diwali -- all such events at the Bachchan household have attracted mass media coverage in the recent past.