Cable operators suspend transmission of select channels

Ahmedabad, Oct 26 (UNI) Cable network operators today suspended transmission of news channels, that were airing developments after the Tehelka expose on the Godhra riots.

The Election Commission said it had not ordered blocking news Channels airing the Tehelka expose and subsequent developments.

However, the unilateral ban from this afternoon has caused curiosity among the people of the city, who were keen to watch reactions after the Tehelka expose last night.

The TV screens of large number of consumers in the city turned black for select news channels while all other Entertainment and news channels, who were not showing news related with Tehelka expose, could be accessed by the Cable users.

''These operators have been in the habit of not showing controversial channels, whenever they are showing anti-Modi news'', a social worker in the Muslim dominated area of the city said.

Recently, cable operators had also suspended the transmission of Modi's interview with Karan Thapar.

Last evening, cable operators had stopped broadcast of all channels, an hour eariler before the broadcast of Tehelka expose on Godhra riots.

The major cable operators -- Siticable and Antariksh -- cited ''technical snag'' as reason for the suspension. Around 65 per cent houses in the city were not able to watch TV yesterday.

Operators said TRP of Aj Tak channels soared in entire Gujarat, after the broadcast of Tehelka expose in which BJP, VHP and others leaders involved in Godhra had admitted to the killings of several persons during the Godhra riots in 2002. These leaders also named the Chief Minister Narendra Modi as well as Ministers for supporting them.

UNI