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The district administration has allowed resumption of services of the cable TV network in Darjeeling with the rider that cable operators would not air events currently taking place.
District officials had on Thursday night raided the control rooms of the Milkyway and Darjeeling Combined Cable Network (DCCN) and shut them down. The cable operators had failed to show the required documents asked by the officials.
“We had a meeting with the district administration this morning and after a long discussion we were told we could resume services. However, the administration has asked us not to air local channels,” said Anupam Subba, co-proprietor of DCCN.
Three local channels run on the two cable networks. They are Darjeeling Television, Hamro Channel and Himali Channel. Besides airing cultural and government programmes and musical shows, these channels also show various political events that take place.
“The administration has told us it will sit for a meeting with representatives of the three local channels soon and ask them to submit their registration. Only if the local channels comply with the rules will they be allowed to function,” said Subba.
Officials, however, have refused to comment on the matter with one senior official claiming he was not the authority when asked to comment on the clampdown.
Observers believe the administration asking the cable operators to close down was to ensure the local channels did not air the demonstrations staged by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha as they would motivate others to join the separate statehood movement.
Commenting on the lifting of the ban, GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang said, “This is a victory for the people and democracy. The state government cannot suppress the voice of the people as they have now started coming out to the streets for their rights.” (EOIC)
District officials had on Thursday night raided the control rooms of the Milkyway and Darjeeling Combined Cable Network (DCCN) and shut them down. The cable operators had failed to show the required documents asked by the officials.
“We had a meeting with the district administration this morning and after a long discussion we were told we could resume services. However, the administration has asked us not to air local channels,” said Anupam Subba, co-proprietor of DCCN.
Three local channels run on the two cable networks. They are Darjeeling Television, Hamro Channel and Himali Channel. Besides airing cultural and government programmes and musical shows, these channels also show various political events that take place.
“The administration has told us it will sit for a meeting with representatives of the three local channels soon and ask them to submit their registration. Only if the local channels comply with the rules will they be allowed to function,” said Subba.
Officials, however, have refused to comment on the matter with one senior official claiming he was not the authority when asked to comment on the clampdown.
Observers believe the administration asking the cable operators to close down was to ensure the local channels did not air the demonstrations staged by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha as they would motivate others to join the separate statehood movement.
Commenting on the lifting of the ban, GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang said, “This is a victory for the people and democracy. The state government cannot suppress the voice of the people as they have now started coming out to the streets for their rights.” (EOIC)
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