Veena Malik

Bigg Boss, the popular reality show on Color’s channel is blocked by cable operators acting upon an appeal by a senior Shiv Sena leader. But DTH subscribers continue to view the channel despite the block which is done by cable operators. Cable operators in Santa Cruz, Jogeshwari, Malad and Kandivli reported that the channel had to be blocked from 9pm due to threats received from Shiv Sena leaders.

The Shiv Sena leaders reacted largely against the participation of two contestants from Pakistan Veena Malik and Begum Nawazish Ali. Senior Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab had requested Cable Operators and Distributors Association not to air the show. He also asked them to take a strong stand against the participation of Pakistani people in the show, Bigg Boss.

Parab argued that nowhere in Pakistan does an Indian channel find any space. It would be foolish to give importance to people from Pakistan when Pakistan is not treating India well and is not giving the due respect. Ganesh Naidu, president of Cable Operators and Distributors Association agreed with him and thus they have taken such a decision. Parab also said, “Bala Saheb (Thackeray) is opposing the participation of Pakistani players in the show since the beginning. The channel has not paid any heed. So now we have appealed to all the cable operators, who have agreed to our request to switch off the channel from tonight. Starting with Mumbai, the signals will be shut in whole of Maharashtra.”

Some operators had blocked the channel from 6pm while others had blocked it from 9pm, when the show Bigg Boss was about to be shown. It was also reported that Shiv Sena had sent an appeal to Colors to remove the two Pakistani participants from the show. They had also threatened to block the channel if colors had not removed the two Pakistani contestants.