No ban on Arab TV Channels, reports mysterious, says I

New Delhi, Aug 7 (UNI) The Government today termed as '' mysterious and misleading'', the reports published in a West Asian newspaper that India had banned Arab TV channels.

The news report had suggested that the ban had been effected as a pro-Israeli move.

''It is a mysterious news item aimed only at creating confusion, the Government has taken no such decision'' Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Baijendra Kumar told UNI when asked about the report.

Mr Kumar said it was surprising that the News report had quoted an I and B official to confirm the so-called ban.

''It is totally misleading'', he said and explained that under the downlinking guidelines issued in December 2005, foreigh TV channel had been given six months' time to register and that dealine expired on May 10 this year, so those channels which had got themselves registered by that time were airing their programmes.

''Those, whether Arab or any other, had not got registration by May 10 were not allowed to operate, that's all.There was no question of banning any news channel under any specific policy,'' he added.

The West Asian daily, Arab News, published from Saudi Arabia, had yesterday written, ''It seems the ban is a move to ensure that Indians do not get to see the atrocities that are presently being committed by Israel in Lebanon and the occupied territories.

''Minister of Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi was busy in Parliament and was unavailable for comment on the issue.

However, a ministry official explained why the Indian government decided to enforce the ban. The official highlighted that India enjoys close and cordial relations with Israel and the US more than any of the Arab governments,'' it said.

Rubbishing these suggestions, Mr Kumar said it was misguiding to quote a Ministry official as making such comments.

UNI NAZ VD RAI1941