SRINAGAR: – The Union Governments directive to the state to halt the transmission of 34 TV channels from Muslim countries including Pakistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia in Kashmir Valley has put the cable operators here in a catch 22 situation as according to the operators they can neither defy the ban order nor can they afford to stop providing these channels which are highly popular among people in the Kashmir Valley.
Taking to Kashmir Observer, members of the Cable Operators Association said they have decided to defy the order as their business depends mostly on these channels.
When asked about the consequences they will face in case of defiance, they said let authorities seize their equipment and close down their business but they will not stop providing these channels on their own as it will in any case hit their business.
Most of these channels beam programmes about religion, sports and lifestyle and none incites violence, said Mohammad Amjad President Kashmir Cable Operators Association, adding these channels are very popular among people here.
We had a meeting with Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar and we categorically told him that we cant stop broadcasting these channels as it will hit our business badly as people will have no purpose in subscribing to our service then.
Why will one subscribe to our service if we don’t give better options than DTH like Dish TV or Tata Sky? we told him.
DC warned us that the authorities will go for seizure and we told him that we are ready for that, said Khateeb Hussain member of the Association.
The operators are of the view that they will face backlash from public if they block these channels.
Its common sense we will be labelled as government agents as people will not receive such channels on DTH service allowed in India. Most of them will install their own dish antennas and continue to get these channels. Only result will be loss of livelihood for around two thousand people associated with the cable operations here, they said.
I dont find any logic behind banning these channels. What has entertainment and sports channels to do with radicalisation and inciting violence, said another member of the association.
Channels like ARY Musik broadcasts Sufi Music, ARY Zauq or Ham Masala are cooking channels from Pakistan while Saudi 1 telecasts live feed from Haram Sharif in Makkah 24×7 as does Karbala TV from holy shrine of Imam Hussain in Karbala, said Javed Ahmad Mir, a TV buff.
As already reported the directive to block channels have come from Central government as these channels have no beaming rights by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
An order issued by Principal Secretary, Home Department, R K Goyal, to all the deputy magistrates (deputy commissioners) of the state said.”It needs being noted that transmission of non-permitted TV channels apart from attracting the violation (of the law), has the potential to encourage or incite violence and create law and order disturbances in the Kashmir Valley.
The channels on the list mostly belong to Pakistan and Persian Gulf, and they also include Zakir Naiks Peace TV which has already been banned in India.
The list of 34 channels includes Peace TV Urdu and English, Madni Channel, Hadi TV, Paigam, Hidayat, ARY QTV, Noor TV, Saudi Al-Sunnah Al- Nabawiyah, Message TV, ARY Zindagi, ARY Digital Asia, Hum Sitaray, Hum TV, Saudi-Al-Quran Al-Karim, Ahli-bayt TV, Sehar, Karbala TV, ARY Musik, Geo News, ARY News Asia, TV One, ARY Masala, PTV Sports, ARY Zauq, A TV, Abb Tak News, 92 News, Duniya News, Waseb TV, Samaa News, Express News, Geo Tez, and ARY News.
The ban comes nearly a month after state government blocked Social Media Websites throughout Kashmir Valley following student unrest.
Related Stories: Banning TV Channels, Social Media Fascist Approach: Mirwaiz
JK Govt Asks DCs To Block 34 TV Channels
Delhi Directs JK Govt to Stop Pak Channels
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |