Govt pulls the plug on Pak, Saudi channels
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has asked cable television operators in Srinagar, the state’s summer capital, to stop airing 30 channels broadcasting programmes based on news and religion. It said the move was necessary for the “maintenance of peace and tranquillity” in the region. Most of the channels are based in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
“It has become necessary and expedient in the larger interest of public and maintenance of peace and tranquillity to prohibit you from transmitting non-permitted TV channels (which are not permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India),” Srinagar’s additional district magistrate said in an order passed on July 12 in response to a communication from the state’s home department. HT has a copy of the order.
The magistrate issued notices to cable networks SEN Digital Network and K9, quoting the department as saying that they were telecasting “unpermitted or banned” private satellite channels.
A cable TV operator said on condition of anonymity that his network had been asked to close around 30 channels including Geo, ARY, QTV, Hadi TV, Karbala, Paigam, Peace TV Urdu, Noor, Sehar, Madani, Saudi Quran, Saudi Sunah and many other religious channels.
J&K has been under Governor’s Rule since June 20 following the resignation of chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who quit after her People’s Democratic Partyled government lost the support of its alliance partner, the BJP.
The cable networks have been warned of action if they don’t comply with the order.
“…In exercise of powers conferred by section 19 of Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, you are hereby directed to immediately stop telecasting/ transmitting non permitted TV channels/banned private satellite channels within period of three days for which a notarized affidavit be furnished to this office, failing which action as contemplating under the provisions of the act will be taken against you,” the order read.
Cable network operators have called a meeting to discuss the repercussions of the order on their business. The cable operator quoted above questioned the logic of the order, wondering “how religious channels posed a threat to peace in Kashmir”
“The government’s order to close dozens of Pakistani channels including Islamic channels is not only undemocratic but autocratic. They are akin to putting curbs on the effectiveness of media,” separatist leader and chief cleric of Jamia Majid, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq tweeted.