NEW DELHI – Just weeks after India banned social media in the restive valley of Kashmir, the Congress on Saturday urged the incumbent BJP-led government to take action against the illegal Pakistani and Saudi Arabian channels being aired in the held Kashmir where a recent wave of the anti-regime intifada has set alarm bells in the New Delhi.
The congress, usually critic of Modi government, put forth the demand in the light of reports that said Pakistani and Saudi Arabian TV channels were inciting the anti-regime “militancy” in the valley.
https://twitter.com/kashmir_rise/status/860865495544680448
The Times of India reported that apart from Zakir Naik’s banned Peace TV, private operators were airing Saudi and Pakistani channels like Saudi Sunnah, Saudi Quran, Al Arabia, Paigham, Hidayat, Noor, Madani, Sehar, Karbala, Hadi, Sehar, Ary QTV, Bethat, Ahlibat, Message, Falak, Geo News, Ary News, Dawn News and other channels which cannot be accessed through satellite television service providers. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry also does not allow any of these channels to air in the rest of the country.
Congress leader P.L. Punia demanded that the Union Government should take action stringent against the guilty.
“Situation in Jammu and Kashmir is very vulnerable and fragile and in such conditions airing of such channels is dangerous. I believe that the central government is aware of this fact and should soon should take necessary steps in the regard and stop these channels from being aired in Jammu and Kashmir and the guilty should be prosecuted,” Punia told ANI.
Treading similar paths, Communist Party of India (CPI) condemned the report and urged foreign media to not meddle in internal affairs of India.
“I strongly condemn this. Foreign media should not meddle in our affairs and should not take an anti-India position like this. It s highly objectionable and we strongly disapprove the airing of such anti-India versions in Jammu and Kashmir which is in great turmoil,” CPI leader D.Raja told ANI.
