To mute Peace TV, govt to get lesson from abroad

He said Malaysia and a few other countries already have a ban in place. “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.

Naik’s speeches are reported to have influenced at least one of the five involved in the recent terror attack at a Dhaka cafe.

Sent report on Zakir to UPA, took no action: Baghpat MP

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. “The only thing I could understand from the speeches he is making is that he is trying to promote radicalism, which is not good for the country,” Naidu said.

On Naik’s Peace TV channel, Naidu said multiple system operators (MSOs) of cable TV will be immediately asked to stop broadcasting channels that are not permitted. “These channels applied (for permission to I&B ministry) and were rejected,” he said, adding that any “unauthorised telecast” is “punishable”.

Acharya Krishnam demands arrest of Zakir Naik for ‘inspiring’ Dhaka attackers

Minister of State for I&B Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said advisories were being issued Friday through email, and the Home ministry has been asked to keep track of any such broadcasting and report to the I&B ministry. “The advisory will be effective by tomorrow, following which action can be taken by the district- and state-level monitoring committees against cable operators,” he said.

I&B Secretary Ajay Mittal said he has already written to chief secretaries of all states to crack down on broadcast of unauthorised channels as per the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act. “As far as the ministry is concerned, Zakir Naik’s Peace TV is not authorised,” he added.

Kashmiri separatists back televangelist Zakir Naik, criticise govt

According to Rathore, the meeting was held to discuss objectionable content being broadcast over and above permission given to broadcasters, including the case of Peace TV. The meeting was attended by officials from the Intelligence Bureau, Home ministry, and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.