Mumbai cable operators block Bigg Boss telecast

Mumbai: Acting on an appeal from a senior Shiv Sena leader, most cable operators in Mumbai and Thane Wednesday blocked Colors TV, the channel that airs reality show Bigg Boss 4, an official from a cable operators' association said here Wednesday.

"Senior Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab requested us not to air Colors and help them take an aggressive stand vis-à-vis the participation of Pakistani stars in Bigg Boss-4," Cable Operators and Distributors Association's president Ganesh Naidu told IANS.

"Parab told us that Indian channels find no space in Pakistan. So why are we giving importance to people with Pakistani nationality? Most of us agree with him and hence we have accepted his request," Naidu added.

Some operators blocked the channel 6 p.m. while the channel was completely blocked 9 p.m, when Bigg Boss 4 was scheduled to go on air, Naidu said.

Earlier, the Shiv Sena had reportedly issued an ultimatum to Colors TV to remove the two Pakistani stars - Veena Malik and Begum Nawazish Ali - from the show by 6 p.m. Wednesday, failing which they would block the channel.

Cable subscribers from different parts of Mumbai and Thane also confirmed that Colors TV had suddenly gone off the air.

Many expressed disappointment at being deprived of their favourite shows owing to a political tussle between Shiv Sena and Colors TV management.

Despite repeated attempts, the Shiv Sena officials were not available for comment whether they had ordered the blocking of Colors TV.

The party has been agitating strongly in Lonavala, a hill-station around 120 km from here, where the Bigg Boss-4 shooting was currently on, demanding removal of the two Pakistani actors from the show.