New Delhi: The government today asked the states to ensure that TV channels which are not permitted to downlink in India are not broadcast by cable operators, a move which comes against the backdrop of controversy over Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s speeches on ‘Peace TV’.

An advisory, by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to the states said there have been reports of “security threats due to TV content” aimed at inciting communal and terrorist violence.

“In particular, reports are being received of such content being broadcast through private satellite TV channels, such as Peace TV channel, which are not permitted by this Ministry for downlinking into the country…the role of your state government in this regard is crucial in preventing any broadcast or transmission of such non-permitted channels by the cable operators,” the two-page advisory said.

It said that in case of violations, necessary prompt action must be taken by the authorised officers in the district against the defaulters to stop transmission of such channels.

Besides other penal provisions, the equipment of such cable operators can be seized by the district authorities, the advisory said.

Official sources said ‘Peace TV’ does not have the required permission to be broadcast in India despite which it is distributed by some cable operators.

“The channel had applied for a license in 2008-09 but was refused. However, there have been reports that it is still beamed by some cable operators,” they said.

BJP calls for restricting Peace TV broadcast

 

 

Kolkata: BJP today called for restricting broadcast of ‘Peace TV’, which telecasts sermons of controversial Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, in the city and urged for legal proceedings and prompt measures to limit “potentially communal and terror-evoking channels”.

A state BJP delegation today wrote to Kolkata Police Commissioner requesting him to take actions against such cable channels.

“This is to bring to your notice that much talked about TV channel ‘Peace’ is being broadcast illegally by several cable operators in Kolkata. Religious hate speeches and highly- objectionable sermons prompting Jihadi overtones are the main content of the said channel. The Channel is unauthorised and unlicensed and as such telecast of the same is illegal,” the letter to Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar said.

The letter said the channel is being primarily used by Zakir Naik, whose religious hate speech and sermons have already been established to be the source of inspiration and indoctrination of several hardcore terrorists in the sub continent.

“In Kolkata various cable operators are broadcasting this channel illegally, especially in central Kolkata area,” the letter said.

“In the backdrop of growing terrorist activities in the sub-continent and religious fundamentalism, immediate steps are required to forbid such propagandas, which have potential to destroy the communal harmony in Kolkata and the state.

“Strict monitoring of cable operators should be enforced.

And we urge for prompt measures to restrict such potentially communal and terror evoking channels and also initiate legal proceedings against the perpetrators,” senior BJP leader Joy Prakash Majumddar said.

PTI