Kolkata: BJP on Saturday called for restricting broadcast of ‘Peace TV’, which telecasts sermons of controversial Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, in the city and urged for legal proceedings and prompt measures to limit “potentially communal and terror-evoking channels”.
A state BJP delegation on Saturday wrote to Kolkata Police Commissioner requesting him to take actions against such cable channels.
“This is to bring to your notice that much talked about TV channel ‘Peace’ is being broadcast illegally by several cable operators in Kolkata. Religious hate speeches and highly- objectionable sermons prompting Jihadi overtones are the main content of the said channel. The Channel is unauthorised and unlicensed and as such telecast of the same is illegal,” the letter to Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar said.
The letter said the channel is being primarily used by Zakir Naik, whose alleged religious hate speech and sermons have already been established to be the source of inspiration and indoctrination of several hardcore terrorists in the sub continent.
“In Kolkata various cable operators are broadcasting this channel illegally, especially in central Kolkata area,” the letter said.
“In the backdrop of growing terrorist activities in the sub-continent and religious fundamentalism, immediate steps are required to forbid such propagandas, which have potential to destroy the communal harmony in Kolkata and the state.
“Strict monitoring of cable operators should be enforced. And we urge for prompt measures to restrict such potentially communal and terror evoking channels and also initiate legal proceedings against the perpetrators,” senior BJP leader Joy Prakash Majumddar said.