Tamil channels on air despite KRV protests

Tamil channels on air despite KRV protests
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Karnataka’s cable operators have said they will continue to broadcast Tamil channels ‘come what may’ and will not allow ‘just one organization to create ill-will and conflict’ between communities. On Thursday, Tamil channels continued to be on air, despite an attack on a cable office on Double Road by a group of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) activists.
A group of 15-30 KRV activists attacked the cable TV office and broke the building’s glass facade. The police arrested 34 people. President of Karnataka State Cable TV Operators Association, V S Patrick Raju, and other operators, reacting strongly to the stoning of the cable office by activists who want a ban on Tamil channels, told TOI: “Just one group is doing all this. Everybody knows who it is. We want the organization and their leaders to be reined in. If that doesn’t happen, we may be forced to get on to the streets. We are watching and assessing the situation. If the trend of violence continues, we may have to counter it.’’
Raju said all Kannada organizations except one were in support of cable operators not blocking Tamil channels. “When everybody is supporting us, why should we bow down to one person? We don’t support violence. We will respond appropriately if strong-arm tactics are used,’’ he added.
KRV has said it will continue with its attacks if Tamil channels are not blocked. “We may have to resort to cutting cables if our demands are not met,’’ said an activist.