India bars ‘un-authorised Peace TV’ airing

Screen shot of letter from India’s Information and Broadcasting ministry (I&B) to cable operators on "transmission of un-authorized TV channels by cable operators - action by authorised officers of the state governments."

India's Information and Broadcasting ministry (I&B) yesterday directed cable operators to black out "un-authorised" television channels including controversial Peace TV of Dr Zakir Naik, reports The Hindustan Times.

The I&B ministry held a meeting Friday — attended by representatives from the home ministry, intelligence agencies and National Investigation Agency (NIA) — to discuss all unlicensed channels broadcast in the country.

 Transmission of un-authorized TV channels by Cable Operators - Action by Authorised Officers of the State Governments 

"It was decided that strict action will be taken against cable or multi-system operators who stream unlicensed channels, including Peace TV. The Intelligence Bureau and NIA have been asked to examine the contents of Peace TV in particular," said the home ministry official.

"I saw the speeches made by him (Naik) and also the telecast of the particular channel (Peace TV). Today, I made enquiries with my officers. It is a matter concerning security of our country and social harmony,"

India to get lesson from abroad

The government will take help of countries that have banned Zakir Naik in an effort to clamp down on speeches of the controversial Islamic preacher, said Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.

Malaysia and a few other countries already have a ban in place, the minister told The Indian Express.

"The I&B ministry is trying to get information from those countries as to what action they have taken and under what provisions," he added.

Sources in the ministry said other countries that would be contacted include the UK and Canada, where the controversial orator and founder of Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation has been banned from making speeches.