Following the cable TV operators' move, protesting United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) has also stopped broadcast of Nepali TV channels in Bara and Parsa districts from Wednesday.
Ram Sarraf, an employee of City Satellite Cable in Birgunj, said that his office was forced to stop broadcast of Nepali TV channels as instructed by the UDMF. Earlier, the UDMF through a press statement had issued a 24 hours ultimatum to cable TV operators here to stop broadcast of Nepali TV channels.
The UDMF has decided to stop broadcast of Nepali TV channels in protest against the move by Kathmandu-based and other cable operators to stop broadcast of Indian TV channels, according to Pradeep Yadav, UDMF coordinator for Parsa district protest steering committee.
"Our neighboring country had only been expressing solidarity with our demands. However, the so-called nationalists have revolted against India too by not broadcasting their channels," said Yadav.
He further said that the ban would gradually be extended to Nepali songs and music in Madhes.
Storm leaves trail of destruction in Bara, Parsa
Meanwhile, locals of Mahottari have vandalized Dish Home distributor, Shah Cassette and gift house, in Jaleshwar Municipality-5 over the ban on Indian TV channels.
The shop's owner Bhola informed that local protesters torched Dish Home billboard and their own Dish Home set top boxes on fire.
"They could not cause much damage to my shop because the shutters were down due to the ongoing strike," said he.
Krishna Nandan Singh, a local youth, blamed that the national media has been acting in a biased way by airing anti-Indian news and information.
"We demand immediate resumption of Hindi channels," said Singh.
