The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Sunday directed all District Magistrates to ensure stoppage of the broadcast of around 30 Pakistani TV channels. A directive issued by the state Home Department said these channels had the potential of inciting violence and creating a law and order problem.
The directive follows a communication from the Union Government asking the state to stop unauthorised broadcast of Pakistani channels.
The Centre on Friday had asked the J&K government to take immediate steps to stop the unauthorised broadcast of Pakistani and Saudi Arabian channels in the state.
Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu earlier spoke with the state chief secretary and also sought a compliance report at the earliest, official sources said.
He expressed concern over reports that these channels are being broadcast in Jammu and Kashmir without permission.
Naidu's deputy in the ministry, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, had said the local administration in the state has right to confiscate the equipment of cable operators allegedly airing unauthorised channels.
Noting that the government has sent an advisory to the state, Rathore said such communications are regularly sent by the Centre on unauthorised channels.
We also monitor whenever such news comes up. It is our work to ask for report about such incidents. The action is being taken.Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister of State, I&B Ministry
Rathore said it is the responsibility of the local administration to monitor unauthorised channels in their area and they have the right to take action against them.
“In Kashmir, the district collector or the authorised government official can confiscate the equipment and take action against cable operators,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.
The minister was responding to reports that over 50 Saudi and Pakistani channels besides Zakir Naik's banned Peace TV and others indulging in “anti-India” propaganda were allegedly running without necessary clearances via private cable networks in Kashmir.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)
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