by B.Raman
(September 14, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) It has been reported that the anti-US and anti-Christian violence in Jammu and Kashmir on September 13,2010, was triggered off by rumours disseminated by an unlisted and unregistered TV channel of Iran alleging an incident of insult to the Holy Koran in the US.
The Srinagar correspondent of "The Hindu " (September 14) of Chennai has reported as follows: " The Government (of J & K) has banned airing of Teheran-based "Press TV".... Chief Secretary S.S. Kapur said it was surprising that only in "Press TV" an unknown individual was shown, without verification or any authenticity descecrating the Koran. It seemed to be a deliberate act and a conspiracy to instigate innocent sentiments of the people. Mr.Kapur said he verified with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry the authenticity of "Press TV". He was informed that this channel was not at all listed among the registered channels being telecast in India. The District Magistrate of Srinagar was asked to issue orders for an immediate ban on the unauthorised channel....No other reliable channel of the world or of India had telecast such condemnable images of descecration.Even if such an act had occurred at any individual level, it was an act that was strongly condemnable. Provoking the sentiments of innocent people by deliberate telecast of such images was also against ethics. Describing the report of the channel as totally against public interest, the Chief Secretary said this unauthorised and unregistered channel ("Press TV" ) was banned in all other districts of the State too."
The Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union should act against Iran and the "Press TV" for allegedly provoking anti-US and anti-Christian violence by telecasting such provocative images.
( The writer is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai, and Associate of the Chennai Centre For China Studies. E-mail: seventyone2@gmail.com )
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