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| Channel ban turns hoax | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Apr 26
When New Delhi and Islamabad are cozying up to new relations amidst changing realities, the purported on ban on the beaming of Pakistani channels in Kashmir Valley has proved a mere hoax.
In fact, there was no ban at all. There was a circular to the cable operators requesting them to apply for and seek permission for down-linking under the Cable Television Policy Guidelines for all those channels which were being run in unauthorized manner.
As the alleged banning of Pakistani channels in Kashmir could have kicked off a diplomatic row between New Delhi and Islamabad, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has clarified that there was no such ban at all. This controversy was seen as more upsetting when India and Pakistan were talking about cultural exchange programs and free flow of artistic and entertaining content between the two countries.
Interestingly, Kashmir Valley was not the only place in India which got this circular and Pakistani channels were not the only channels which were being run in contravention of the policy guidelines.
Clearing its stand on the controversy, the The government today said it has not banned airing of any news channel but only warned against unauthorised down-linking by cable operators.
The government's stand was conveyed by Information and Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Asha Swarup to President, Cable Operators Federation of India (COFI) Roop Sharma.
An official release said it was brought to the notice of the Information & Broadcasting ministry that several channels which have neither applied for nor received permission for down-linking under the 1995 policy guidelines are being received and distributed by cable television networks in certain states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
This is an offence under the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, it pointed out.
The ministry has not issued ban orders against any specific channel but it has advised these states that channels which are being illegally down-linked in flagrant violation of the down-linking guidelines issued by the ministry should be checked.
Swarup requested the cable operators to restore legitimate cable services immediately so that consumers are not inconvenienced in any way. She clarified that the Ministry has not banned any channel but only requested enforcement of the Cable Television Act and Policy Guidelines. |
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