Gujarat decides to ban Pak TV

Gandhinagar, June 1: The State Government has decided to impose a ban on Pakistan TV programmes being screened by private cable operators...

Gandhinagar, June 1: The State Government has decided to impose a ban on Pakistan TV programmes being screened by private cable operators in the state, apparently in a bid to check anti-India propaganda being unleashed by the neighbouring country about the on-going Kargil sector operation.

8220;The police is being directed to ensure that the ban is effectively implemented by private cable operators throughout the State from tomorrow,8221; Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya told reporters after a closed-door meeting with senior officials of his department here today.

Pandya said such a ban had already been imposed by the Kalyan Singh Government in Uttar Pradesh. He asserted that 8220;anti-national propaganda by any agency or media will be curbed with an iron hand in Gujarat too8221;. The powers to detain anti-national elements under the National Security Act NSA have been vested in the collectors of the six border districts of Guajarat, he added.

The Minister, who visited the Kutch and Banaskantha borderdistricts along with senior officials of his department the last week end, said patrolling by border wing Home Guards was intensfied in the border areas and the district collectors were instructed to ensure that the security personnel were provided all necessary facilities. Besides, effective co-ordination is being established among various State and Central security agencies in the border areas.

ACS Home V V Ramsubbarao who had accompanied the Minister to the border areas said there were no reports of infiltration from across the border into Gujarat, nor was any incident of provocation reported.

He, however, said the government was not taking any chance and that an alert had been declared in the six border districts and a general alert sounded in other districts of the State too. The civil defence mechanism is being geared up in the State in view of the present crisis in the Kargil sector, he said.