Talking tough on sting operations carried out by television channels, the Union government Tuesday said in the Lok Sabha that it would soon come out with guidelines and steps in this regard.

Replying to a matter raised by a member on the sting operation shown by a private television channel on Monday on MPs allegedly sub-letting their quarters on rent to earn money, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi said "the government will decide on issuing a show cause notice to the channel soon."

TV channels, in a race for increasing their TRP (television rating points), go for such sensational news which have implications not only for political parties but for the entire nation and this prestigious House, the minister said. "We shall see what steps can be taken to stop this," he said. The matter was raised by BJP member Santosh Gangwar.