Rubbishing allegation that Peace TV was denied broadcasting rights because it is 'Islamic', Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Friday termed it as 'false'.
"Allegation that Peace TV was denied broadcasting rights because it is 'Islamic' is completely false. In India there has not been discrimination on the basis of religion and will not be in the near future as well. The accusation is completely false," Naidu told the media here.
He said that Peace TV was banned because it did not have the permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
"If channel does not have permission, then there is no questioning of banning it," he added.
Naidu further said that in 2008, the MHA had denied broadcasting rights to Peace TV after the channel failed to provide its funding details.
"In 2008, Peace TV filed an application requesting for broadcasting license in India. In 2009, Ministry of Home Affairs, after detailed analysis, rejected their application," he added.
Also Read
He said the application was again referred to the MHA, following which the ministry sought details about its funding and source to which they failed to provide.
The minister's comments comes days after India decided to ban the unauthorized channel, which is not licensed in India and is uplinked from Dubai, after one of the militants of Holey Artisan Bakery terror attack in Dhaka, was inspired by Naik's preaching's.
Taking cue from India, Bangladesh also decided to ban the airing of Peace TV.
However, there is no substantial evidence that suggests that Naik through his preachings indoctrinated or radicalised any of the youths linked with terrorism.
His name first appeared in 2002-2003 amid a series of blasts in Mumbai and led Mumbai crime branch to Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) founded by him. But no evidence was found against him.
While he claims to be an advocate of interfaith dialogue, his preachings reinforce otherwise.
He opposes propagating any other religion and says that non-Muslims should not be allowed to have places of religious worships in an Islamic country.